More details are emerging about the on-off shambles of Prince Harry’s deployment to Iraq with the Blues and Royals.

General Sir Richard Dannatt

We are hearing that the decision has left him “devastated” and reconsidering his long-term military career. Did no one think of all this when he joined the Army in the first place, not as a training exercise like Prince William, but as a full-time career Army officer?

In fact, it’s now a distinct possibility that he will be put on a similar path as his brother. William is to leave his regiment shortly for short spells with the RAF and the Royal Navy to prepare for his future role as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Royal sources are now hinting that Harry may accompany him.

Until then, the Prince will join William in D Squadron of the Blues and Royals, a holding unit that never fights in the field and which is made up of injured soldiers unfit to serve or those preparing to leave the regiment.

The other alternative is to put him in a UN peacekeeping force in Africa or another troublespot where he is unlikely to face kidnap and public torture. If he is deployed, it will be under conditions of absolute secrecy.

Since he now believes he has lost credibility as a professional soldier, the likelihood is that he has secretly agreed to a lesser role for a year or two, before quietly resigning from the Army.

But what then for the warrior Prince?

Following Royal Anecdotes’ open letter to Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, the General has just announced that he has decided against the deployment of Prince Harry to Iraq.

The Army chief travelled personally to Basra to assess the dangers both to Harry and his men. He talked to all concerned, including Special Forces who would have been involved in his protection, and has now made his decision.

Clarence House has commented, “Prince Harry will be very disappointed, but will remain in the Army”.

General Sir Richard Dannatt also said that he has spoken with Harry’s commanding officer about ways to facilitate the Prince’s future career as an Army officer. Harry is expected to be promoted to full Lieutenant next year.

Updated

We’re hearing that Prince Harry’s deployment to Iraq has been delayed. He is now due to be flown out later than most of his squadron.

Rebecca English reports : “Senior Blues and Royals officers are concerned that his presence during the initial handover between units will be too disruptive. It will also give them time to put in place the measures needed to deal with having such a senior member of the Royal Family in a war zone.”

Security sources reportedly said that Harry and the troop of 11 soldiers he commands were being held back. It is the strongest proof yet that both the Army and the Ministry of Defence continue to have serious concerns about his deployment, despite an urgent review last week.

“The deployment of Harry’s squadron is, by necessity, staggered but the fact that Harry and his men are being sent over at a later date shows just how much a strain his presence will have on the squadron,” the source said.

“Everyone involved has sympathy for the Prince but it is an increasingly difficult situation and one that is changing day by day.”

Let’s hope Sir Richard Dannatt is having second thoughts.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of Defence Staff, has decided to send Prince Harry to Iraq despite the doubts about his — and his men’s — safety.

Chelsy Davy with Prince Harry on Friday.

In a statement, the General said he was satisfied he had made the right decision : “I, as Chief of the General Staff, will take the decision and have taken the decision as to whether he should or should not deploy. He will deploy.”

That seems clear enough. The Times (London) reports :

Defence sources said that Harry, 22, who is known as Cornet Wales, would also be carrying out his normal duties as a reconnaissance troop leader with A Squadron of The Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry. They said this meant that he would fulfil all the responsibilities of commanding a troop of 11 soldiers, equipped with four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

Other sources say that he will go out on patrol with up to 200 soldiers, including special forces packing enormous firepower.

He may also have an intelligence role to fulfil which will keep him at his desk for many weeks collating incoming information.

Obviously, we’re not being told the exact situation of his deployment. Nor do we know what the Army thinks it will gain from this.

Royal Anecdotes believes the thinking is that a successful tour of duty by the third in line to the Throne, in the most dangerous of fighting arenas, will make up for the fiasco of the unopposed capture of 15 Royal Navy personnel by a small force of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in March.

Let’s hope this gamble pays off.