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| Britain |
| Prince Harry to quit army ("in a couple of years") |
| 2007-06-09 |
| PRINCE Harry has decided to quit the army early over the debacle of his deployment to Iraq. The 22-year-old, who is on a training exercise in Canada, has told friends he "just couldn't face the humiliation" of being withdrawn from frontline service again. Instead, the prince hopes to join his father and grandmother to become a full-time working member of the royal family. He also plans to travel extensively in Africa and develop Sentebale, the charity he set up in memory of his mother which supports AIDS orphans in the poverty-stricken kingdom of Lesotho. A source close to the prince said: "Harry has wanted to serve in the army since he was a small boy and the debacle over his deployment to Iraq hit him hard. "The poor lad really is beside himself and more than a bit depressed. "He keeps up nearly by the hour on what is happening with his boys in the Gulf. "He knows in his heart of hearts that pulling him out was the death knell for his army career. "He has decided he will devote his time to charity work and travel. Harry has a list that his mother once made of things she wanted to help to change in the world and he wants to check all of them off.'' Reconnaissance officer Harry was due to go with his 12-strong troop from the Blues and Royals to Iraq to begin a six-month tour of duty at the beginning of last month. But the head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, reversed the decision after receiving intelligence that to send Harry to the war zone would put him and his men at "unacceptable'' risk. One insurgent group had threatened to kidnap the young royal. The prince is now on exercise with the British Army Training Unit in Alberta, Canada, in preparation for a possible deployment to Afghanistan this summer. He is said to be encouraged by the move but concerned because there is already talk that the posting is in jeopardy due to rising casualties on the battlefield. Sources say the prince will probably stay for another couple of years as a face-saving exercise but is likely to quit after that. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #1 When his brother Wm becomes king, I hope they correct the situation by awarding Knighthoods only to decorated combat veterans. That would be one in the eye to a multitude of individuals who slight the crown in many ways. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-06-09 19:17 |