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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Prince returning from Afghan tour | Prince returning from Afghan tour |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prince Harry is on his way back to the UK after a news leak led to him being withdrawn 10 weeks into a deployment to the front line in Afghanistan. | Prince Harry is on his way back to the UK after a news leak led to him being withdrawn 10 weeks into a deployment to the front line in Afghanistan. |
| The 23-year-old left on a flight on Friday evening amid concerns he would be a Taleban target if he stayed. | The 23-year-old left on a flight on Friday evening amid concerns he would be a Taleban target if he stayed. |
| His tour had been the subject of an agreed news blackout by some media, but news was broken by a foreign website. | His tour had been the subject of an agreed news blackout by some media, but news was broken by a foreign website. |
| Harry, who said he was enjoying being away from England and the media, is due back at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. | Harry, who said he was enjoying being away from England and the media, is due back at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. |
| Speaking before his withdrawal from Helmand province, the third-in-line to the throne said he would relish another front-line posting. | |
| "It's something I would love to do," he said. | "It's something I would love to do," he said. |
| "I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers." | "I don't want to sit around Windsor, because I generally don't like England that much and it's nice to be away from all the press and the papers." |
| 'Taste of life' | 'Taste of life' |
| Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has refused to be drawn on press speculation that his brother, Prince William, will be deployed on board a warship after his Royal Navy training later this year. | |
| "It's our intention to give Prince William as full a taste of life in the Royal Navy as possible, which may include time on board a warship," a spokesman said. | "It's our intention to give Prince William as full a taste of life in the Royal Navy as possible, which may include time on board a warship," a spokesman said. |
| "It's MoD policy not to discuss details of any individual's deployment or service". | "It's MoD policy not to discuss details of any individual's deployment or service". |
| Prince Harry, who was secretly sent to Afghanistan in December, was ordered out of the country by defence chiefs on Friday. | |
| He was put on a troop transport plane out of country with about 170 personnel, most of them returning home having completing their tours of duty. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYPrince Harry is a trained soldier. I'm in the service too and I'm pleased for him that he was allowed to goDeborah, Hampshire, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYPrince Harry is a trained soldier. I'm in the service too and I'm pleased for him that he was allowed to goDeborah, Hampshire, UKSend us your comments |
| The Household Cavalry officer was picked up from manoeuvres and flown to a base at Kandahar to join his flight back to RAF Brize Norton, where he is expected to arrive just before 1000 GMT. | |
| Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but said that contingency plans for such a leak had been in place. | Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but said that contingency plans for such a leak had been in place. |
| Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in consultation with the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had taken the final decision to withdraw Harry immediately, it said in a statement. | Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in consultation with the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had taken the final decision to withdraw Harry immediately, it said in a statement. |
| "This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier." | "This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier." |
| Queen's praise | Queen's praise |
| Prince Harry had been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment. | Prince Harry had been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment. |
| Work involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols. | Work involved calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces and going out on foot patrols. |
| The Queen, opening the Queen's Court Care Home in Windsor on Friday, said she believed her grandson had done "a good job in a very difficult climate". | The Queen, opening the Queen's Court Care Home in Windsor on Friday, said she believed her grandson had done "a good job in a very difficult climate". |
| THE EDITORS' BLOG A news black-out is unusual, but not unique Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full | THE EDITORS' BLOG A news black-out is unusual, but not unique Jon Williams,World news editor, BBC News Jon's comments in full |
| The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout deal struck between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. | The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout deal struck between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. |
| It is understood that the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it had appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. | It is understood that the news was first leaked in an Australian publication in January but only after it had appeared on the influential US website, The Drudge Report, did the deal break down. |
| 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. |
| The prince's withdrawal is the second major blow to his army career. | The prince's withdrawal is the second major blow to his army career. |
| Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of fears about his and his colleagues' security. | Last year, a planned tour to Iraq had to be cancelled at the last minute because of fears about his and his colleagues' security. |