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Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq | Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq |
(12 minutes later) | |
Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq, the head of the British Army has said. | Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq, the head of the British Army has said. |
The prince had previously stated that he wanted to be involved in active service with his unit. | The prince had previously stated that he wanted to be involved in active service with his unit. |
But the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has confirmed the Prince will not go with his regiment, the Blues and Royals. | But the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has confirmed the Prince will not go with his regiment, the Blues and Royals. |
The prince is "very disappointed" at the decision but will not be leaving the Army as a result, Clarence House said in a statement. | The prince is "very disappointed" at the decision but will not be leaving the Army as a result, Clarence House said in a statement. |
'Extremely disappointed' | 'Extremely disappointed' |
BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said the MoD would have taken account of reports the insurgents in Iraq planned to target the Prince. | BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said the MoD would have taken account of reports the insurgents in Iraq planned to target the Prince. |
I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt | I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt |
It has been reported that they had planned to kill or kidnap the prince, and also that his photograph had been widely circulated among insurgents. | It has been reported that they had planned to kill or kidnap the prince, and also that his photograph had been widely circulated among insurgents. |
The move represents a U-turn by the MoD, which said as recently as last month that the Prince would be heading to the Gulf as an armed reconnaissance officer. | The move represents a U-turn by the MoD, which said as recently as last month that the Prince would be heading to the Gulf as an armed reconnaissance officer. |
In a statement, the general said: "Following a visit to Iraq last week I discovered a number of threats relating directly to Prince Harry and those around him and I am not prepared to export those risks. | In a statement, the general said: "Following a visit to Iraq last week I discovered a number of threats relating directly to Prince Harry and those around him and I am not prepared to export those risks. |
"I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed and his soldiers will miss his presence in Iraq. | "I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed and his soldiers will miss his presence in Iraq. |
"I've asked his commanding officer to develop his future career but I won't speculate on that. | "I've asked his commanding officer to develop his future career but I won't speculate on that. |
"One of the contributing factors to my decision has been the knowledge and discussion of the prince's deployments in the media." | "One of the contributing factors to my decision has been the knowledge and discussion of the prince's deployments in the media." |
He added that some of the risks faced by Prince Harry had not been reported. | He added that some of the risks faced by Prince Harry had not been reported. |
But he paid tribute to the prince, who he said had proved himself as an officer of "determination and undoubted talent - and I do not say that lightly". | But he paid tribute to the prince, who he said had proved himself as an officer of "determination and undoubted talent - and I do not say that lightly". |
'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. | |
"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." | |
Asked if Harry would quit the Army as a result, a spokesman replied: "Absolutely not." | |
The former British Army commander, Colonel Bob Stewart, told BBC News 24 the decision would have been taken very reluctantly. | The 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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6343&edition=1&ttl=20070516165436">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." | |
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. |
But 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. | But 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. |
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: "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." |