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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Army considers Harry deployment | Army considers Harry deployment |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Army heads are to decide whether Prince Harry can continue his deployment in Afghanistan after news broke of him on the front line against the Taleban. | Army heads are to decide whether Prince Harry can continue his deployment in Afghanistan after news broke of him on the front line against the Taleban. |
| The Ministry of Defence has not said how much longer the 23-year-old royal will be on active duty in Afghanistan. | The Ministry of Defence has not said how much longer the 23-year-old royal will be on active duty in Afghanistan. |
| General Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the Army, said he would take advice on whether Harry could continue his work. | General Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the Army, said he would take advice on whether Harry could continue his work. |
| There are fears the prince, nicknamed "the bullet magnet", could now become a prized target for the Taleban. | There are fears the prince, nicknamed "the bullet magnet", could now become a prized target for the Taleban. |
| Harry, who is third in line to the throne, has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province. | Harry, who is third in line to the throne, has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province. |
| Brigadier Patrick Marriott, a spokesman for the British Army, said the possibility that details of Prince Harry's deployment would be made public had always been in the minds of senior Army figures. | |
| "I think it's important that, throughout this whole process, risks have been managed incredibly well," he said. | |
| "There's been an enormous amount of planning that's gone on into this, and the fact that this was going to break was always thought a possible outcome and so plans are there - and I think people can be reassured about that." | |
| Accusations of collusion | Accusations of collusion |
| A member of the Household Cavalry, Prince Harry has been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment. | |
| Work has involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols. | Work has involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols. |
| His deployment there was subject to a news blackout deal struck to preserve his safety, but it broke down after foreign media leaked the story. | His deployment there was subject to a news blackout deal struck to preserve his safety, but it broke down after foreign media leaked the story. |
| Prince Harry had long dreamt of serving in the British armed forces | Prince Harry had long dreamt of serving in the British armed forces |
| In exchange for not reporting the prince's deployment, some media organisations were granted access to the prince in Afghanistan for interviews and filming. | In exchange for not reporting the prince's deployment, some media organisations were granted access to the prince in Afghanistan for interviews and filming. |
| Critics have accused the media of "colluding with the authorities". | Critics have accused the media of "colluding with the authorities". |
| Speaking on BBC One's Question Time, Respect MP George Galloway said he did not like to see the British media, and particularly the BBC, becoming "part of the war effort". | Speaking on BBC One's Question Time, Respect MP George Galloway said he did not like to see the British media, and particularly the BBC, becoming "part of the war effort". |
| He went on to say he thought it was "admirable" Prince Harry was in Afghanistan. | He went on to say he thought it was "admirable" Prince Harry was in Afghanistan. |
| "I promise you there aren't any Members of Parliament sending their sons there; there aren't any ministers sending their sons there, so it is admirable in a way that he is there." | "I promise you there aren't any Members of Parliament sending their sons there; there aren't any ministers sending their sons there, so it is admirable in a way that he is there." |
| US website | US website |
| The news blackout followed a voluntary agreement between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. | The news blackout followed a voluntary agreement between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. |
| It is understood the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. | It is understood the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. |
| It's my understanding that Prince Harry will leave Afghanistan sooner rather than later Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | It's my understanding that Prince Harry will leave Afghanistan sooner rather than later Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent |
| Sir Richard Dannatt praised the UK media's "highly responsible attitude", but said he was disappointed foreign websites had decided to run the story. | Sir Richard Dannatt praised the UK media's "highly responsible attitude", but said he was disappointed foreign websites had decided to run the story. |
| He added: "Now that the story is in the public domain, the chief of defence staff and I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue." | He added: "Now that the story is in the public domain, the chief of defence staff and I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue." |
| The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said senior officers would not only have to consider the prince's safety but also the safety of those around him. | The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said senior officers would not only have to consider the prince's safety but also the safety of those around him. |
| "It's my understanding that Prince Harry will leave Afghanistan sooner rather than later," he said. | "It's my understanding that Prince Harry will leave Afghanistan sooner rather than later," he said. |
| If that is the case, it will be a second major blow to the prince in his army career. | If that is the case, it will be a second major blow to the prince in his army career. |
| Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of a security risk. | Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of a security risk. |