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Wednesday, 16 May 2007

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Prince Harry not going to Iraq

He would be a magnet for insurgents and security risk

Britain's Prince Harry will not be heading to Iraq to serve with his regiment, PEOPLE confirmed Wednesday.

The head of the British Army cited the threat not only to the prince's safety but to those around him since the young royal would be a magnet for insurgents. He also said that the coverage in the media had hindered the security for the prince.

Confirming his decision not to send the prince, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said in a statement, "There have been a number of specific threats, some reported, and some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. These threats place not only him but also those around him a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable."

He added, "I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed and his soldiers will miss his presence in Iraq."

In February, it was reported that the prince, 22, a trained reconnaissance troop commander, looked forward to serving in the war-torn nation with his regiment, the Blues and Royals, despite the security threat.

Military service was something that Prince Harry had clearly felt trained for and was ready to face. In 2005, during an interview to mark his 21st birthday, he said, "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst [Military Academy] and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country."

However, Prince Harry's military career can still go forward, according to Sir Richard. "I've asked his commanding officer to develop his future career but I won't speculate on that," he said.