London – Britain’s defense secretary will announce today whether Prince Harry’s regiment will be sent to Iraq, amid speculation that the third in line to the throne might be deployed.
The Defense Ministry has said Harry could go to Iraq if his unit was deployed there, but said he might be kept out of situations where his presence would jeopardize his comrades.
Defense Secretary Des Browne is expected to tell Parliament whether Harry’s regiment – the Blues and Royals – will be sent to Iraq near the southern city of Basra.
Defense officials refused to disclose Wednesday if he would be among those going to Iraq.
“We are not going to reveal (which regiments),” said a Ministry of Defense spokesman. “You will have to wait for the announcement in Parliament.”
The 22-year-old prince, known as Troop Commander Wales by his regiment, has trained to command 11 soldiers and four Scimitar tanks.
Harry, 22, graduated last year from Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.
Harry follows a royal tradition: Charles was a pilot with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and a ship commander, and Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy during World War II.
