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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Prince Harry is serving on front line


Britain's Prince Harry, right, sits  atop a military vehicle in Afghanistan's Helmand province Feb. 18.Associated Press
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Tariq Panja Associated Press

LONDON – The secret is out: Prince Harry has been serving on the front line with his British army unit in one of Afghanistan’s most lawless and barren provinces.

Harry is the first royal to serve in a combat zone since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters during Britain’s war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.

British officials had hoped to keep the 23-year-old’s deployment secret until he had safely returned, but they released video of Harry serving in Helmand province after a leak appeared on the Drudge Report, a U.S. Web site.

The planned deployment had been disclosed to reporters, with no specific date, but was not reported previously under a pool agreement between the Ministry of Defense and all major news organizations operating in Britain, including the Associated Press. The news blackout was intended to reduce the risk to the prince and his regiment.

“I got here on Christmas Eve. And going from bullet magnet to anti-bullet magnet, most of the guys were pretty bummed that I was here because nothing was happening for the first few days that I was here. But things are picking up again now because it’s obviously quite boring when nothing is happening,” Harry said in one video.

Although he is still in Afghanistan, military chiefs are angry over the leak and are considering if he should be moved. Tours to Afghanistan usually last six months, but Harry has served just 10 weeks.

“I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue,” said the army’s commander, Gen. Richard Dannatt.

Harry, the third in line to the British throne, was supposed to go to Iraq with the Blues and Royals regiment last May but the assignment was scrapped at the last minute because of security fears. Iraqi insurgents made threats on Internet chat rooms, saying he would not make it home alive.

Putting aside his usual life of privilege in Afghanistan, the prince spoke of going without showers for days, eating corned beef and hash and drinking nonalcoholic drinks. He noted he had also escaped the paparazzi in London.