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| Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq | Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq because of the "unacceptable risks", the head of the British army has said. | |
| General Sir Richard Dannatt said the prince's deployment would pose a threat to him and those serving alongside him. | |
| The announcement, which represents a U-turn on an earlier decision, was made amid reports militant groups in Iraq planned to kill or kidnap the prince. | |
| Clarence House said Prince Harry was "very disappointed" but would not be leaving the Army as a result. | Clarence House said Prince Harry was "very disappointed" but would not be leaving the Army as a result. |
| 'Extremely disappointed' | 'Extremely disappointed' |
| Last month the Ministry of Defence had said the prince would be heading to Iraq as an armed reconnaissance officer in the Blues and Royals regiment. | |
| But on Wednesday, the general said he had reached his decision following a visit to the region at the end of last week. | |
| I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt Army statement in full | I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt Army statement in full |
| "There have been a number of specific threats, some reported some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. | "There have been a number of specific threats, some reported some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. |
| "These threats expose not only him but also those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable." | "These threats expose not only him but also those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable." |
| General Dannatt said he knew Prince Harry would be extremely disappointed and that his soldiers would miss his presence in Iraq. | General Dannatt said he knew Prince Harry would be extremely disappointed and that his soldiers would miss his presence in Iraq. |
| Harry would have been deployed with his regiment to Basra | Harry would have been deployed with his regiment to Basra |
| He said the prince had proved himself as an officer of "determination and undoubted talent - and I do not say that lightly". | He said the prince had proved himself as an officer of "determination and undoubted talent - and I do not say that lightly". |
| The army chief did not rule out deploying the 22-year-old prince to the region in the future and paid tribute to all British service personnel deployed around the world. | The army chief did not rule out deploying the 22-year-old prince to the region in the future and paid tribute to all British service personnel deployed around the world. |
| BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said there had been a number of "specific threats", but what the Army was most concerned about was the possibility that Iran would use its security services for an attack on the prince. | BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said there had been a number of "specific threats", but what the Army was most concerned about was the possibility that Iran would use its security services for an attack on the prince. |
| Reg Keys - whose son Thomas was killed while on active service in Basra in 2003 - said he found the decision distasteful and questioned whether insurgents could have told the prince apart from other service personnel. | Reg Keys - whose son Thomas was killed while on active service in Basra in 2003 - said he found the decision distasteful and questioned whether insurgents could have told the prince apart from other service personnel. |
| "It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son or the other nearly 150 service personnel who've given their lives," Mr Keys added. | "It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son or the other nearly 150 service personnel who've given their lives," Mr Keys added. |
| 'Extreme reluctance' | 'Extreme reluctance' |
| A Clarence House statement said: "Prince Harry is very disappointed that he will not be able to go to Iraq with his troop on this deployment as he had hoped. | A Clarence House statement said: "Prince Harry is very disappointed that he will not be able to go to Iraq with his troop on this deployment as he had hoped. |
| "He fully understands and accepts General Dannatt's difficult decision and remains committed to his army career. | "He fully understands and accepts General Dannatt's difficult decision and remains committed to his army career. |
| "Prince Harry's thoughts are with his troop and the rest of the battle group in Iraq." | "Prince Harry's thoughts are with his troop and the rest of the battle group in Iraq." |
| Asked if Harry would quit the Army as a result, a spokesman replied: "Absolutely not." | Asked if Harry would quit the Army as a result, a spokesman replied: "Absolutely not." |
| Former British army commander Colonel Bob Stewart told BBC News 24 the decision would have been taken very reluctantly. | Former British army commander Colonel Bob Stewart told BBC News 24 the decision would have been taken very reluctantly. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Disappointing for him personally, but the right move by the MoD Bob, Chester Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Disappointing for him personally, but the right move by the MoD Bob, Chester Send us your comments |
| He said: "The chief of the general staff has actually made such a decision with extreme reluctance; I know that, he's a personal friend and I know exactly the way he's feeling." | He said: "The chief of the general staff has actually made such a decision with extreme reluctance; I know that, he's a personal friend and I know exactly the way he's feeling." |
| Harry would have been the first British royal to see action since his uncle, Prince Andrew, served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands conflict in 1982. | Harry would have been the first British royal to see action since his uncle, Prince Andrew, served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands conflict in 1982. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: "It's an operational decision taken by the military which we of course respect." | A Downing Street spokesman said: "It's an operational decision taken by the military which we of course respect." |
| But Republic, a group which campaigns for an elected head of state, said the decision showed that "the prince should never have joined the Army". | But Republic, a group which campaigns for an elected head of state, said the decision showed that "the prince should never have joined the Army". |
| In a statement it said: "This is a scandalous waste of taxpayer's money, brought on by the Windsor family's obsession with linking themselves to the military." | In a statement it said: "This is a scandalous waste of taxpayer's money, brought on by the Windsor family's obsession with linking themselves to the military." |
| Former Conservative Defence Secretary Michael Portillo also criticised the MoD for "terrible vacillation" over the issue, and Tory MP Desmond Swayne - a former Territorial Army officer in Iraq - said the decision was a victory for Iraqi insurgents. | Former Conservative Defence Secretary Michael Portillo also criticised the MoD for "terrible vacillation" over the issue, and Tory MP Desmond Swayne - a former Territorial Army officer in Iraq - said the decision was a victory for Iraqi insurgents. |