London – Prince Harry says he wants to be an ordinary soldier, but his army career has left military chiefs with an extraordinary predicament.
Commanders are reportedly reconsidering their decision to allow the prince to fight in Iraq for fear his presence could endanger other soldiers. Harry’s regiment, the Blues and Royals, is due to begin a six-month tour of duty in Iraq within weeks.
The Ministry of Defense would say only that deployments are kept “under constant review.”
“It is still our intent that Prince Harry will deploy as a troop leader,” a spokeswoman said Thursday on the government’s customary condition of anonymity.
The Sun newspaper quoted unidentified senior military officials Thursday as saying the review was likely to lead to Harry’s being banned from the battlefield, although he could still do a desk job.
Over the weekend, newspapers reported threats by Iraqi insurgents to kill or kidnap the 22-year-old prince, including claims his photo had been widely circulated among militants.
Military chiefs accept that the third in line to the throne would be an attractive target for insurgents and that his presence could lead to a surge in attacks on British forces. But some military experts said it was too late to change the decision to let Harry deploy with his regiment.
“It’s good for morale of the other soldiers if Prince Harry goes to Iraq,” said retired Maj. Charles Heyman. “They feel it’s good to have someone from the royal family sharing the risks and the trials and tribulations,” he said.
“And if we don’t send Prince Harry, the insurgents and jihadis will say it is a moral victory for them – that we’re afraid to send the prince.”
