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| Prince Harry on Afghan front line | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Prince Harry has been fighting the Taleban on the front line in Afghanistan, the MoD has confirmed. | Prince Harry has been fighting the Taleban on the front line in Afghanistan, the MoD has confirmed. |
| Harry, 23, who is third in line to the throne, has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province. | Harry, 23, who is third in line to the throne, has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province. |
| The prince joked about his nickname "the bullet magnet", but said: "I finally get the chance to do the soldiering that I want to do." | The prince joked about his nickname "the bullet magnet", but said: "I finally get the chance to do the soldiering that I want to do." |
| The deployment was subject to a news blackout deal, which broke down after being leaked by foreign media. | The deployment was subject to a news blackout deal, which broke down after being leaked by foreign media. |
| Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt, who is head of the British Army, said he was disappointed the news had leaked. | Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt, who is head of the British Army, said he was disappointed the news had leaked. |
| In a statement, he said: "I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us. | In a statement, he said: "I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us. |
| "This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the UK print and broadcast media, along with a small number overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations." | "This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the UK print and broadcast media, along with a small number overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations." |
| It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once Prince Harry class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7269814.stm">Harry 'excitement' at posting class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7269775.stm">'As normal as it gets' class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/1549285.stm">Who are the Taleban? href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7260000/newsid_7269800?redirect=7269835.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Harry on Afghan life | |
| Sir Richard said he would now take advice on whether the prince's deployment could continue. | |
| The news blackout followed a voluntary agreement between the MoD and newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and abroad. | |
| In exchange for not reporting the prince's deployment, some media organisations were granted access to the prince in Afghanistan for interviews and filming. | |
| The Society of Editors said the deal could have been broken at any time over the past eight months. | |
| The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving Gordon Brown, Prime Minister | |
| The BBC's media correspondent Torin Douglas said it was surprising the agreement held for so long, as an Australian magazine and website published the story in January. | |
| But it was only when it appeared on the influential US political website, The Drudge Report, that the agreement broke down, our correspondent said. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Prince Harry had been an "exemplary soldier". | |
| "The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving," he said. | "The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving," he said. |
| "I want to thank Prince Harry and all of our service personnel for their contribution and service." | "I want to thank Prince Harry and all of our service personnel for their contribution and service." |
| 'No showers' | 'No showers' |
| Prince Harry - a member of the Household Cavalry - has been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment, in southern Helmand. | Prince Harry - a member of the Household Cavalry - has been based in a former madrassa along with a Gurkha regiment, in southern Helmand. |
| He is acting as a tactical air controller - calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces. | He is acting as a tactical air controller - calling up allied air cover in support of ground forces. |
| He also goes out on foot patrols. | He also goes out on foot patrols. |
| In an interview while in the Afghan province, Harry talked about life as a soldier on the front line. | In an interview while in the Afghan province, Harry talked about life as a soldier on the front line. |
| "I haven't really had a shower for four days, I haven't washed my clothes for a week. | "I haven't really had a shower for four days, I haven't washed my clothes for a week. |
| "It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once, I think it's about as normal as I'm going to get. | "It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once, I think it's about as normal as I'm going to get. |
| "I am still a little bit conscious of the fact that if I show my face too much in and around the area - luckily there's no civilians around here because it's...a no-man's land. | "I am still a little bit conscious of the fact that if I show my face too much in and around the area - luckily there's no civilians around here because it's...a no-man's land. |
| Prince Harry is very proud to serve his country on operations alongside his fellow soldiers Prince of Wales's spokesman In pictures: On the front line Dannatt: Statement in full | Prince Harry is very proud to serve his country on operations alongside his fellow soldiers Prince of Wales's spokesman In pictures: On the front line Dannatt: Statement in full |
| "But I think that if, up north, when I do go up there, if I do go on patrols in amongst the locals, I'll still be very wary about the fact that I do need to keep my face slightly covered just on the off-chance that I do get recognised, which will put other guys in danger. | "But I think that if, up north, when I do go up there, if I do go on patrols in amongst the locals, I'll still be very wary about the fact that I do need to keep my face slightly covered just on the off-chance that I do get recognised, which will put other guys in danger. |
| "The Gurkhas think it's hysterical how I am called the 'bullet magnet', but they've yet to see why." | "The Gurkhas think it's hysterical how I am called the 'bullet magnet', but they've yet to see why." |
| The deployment comes after the prince's planned tour to Iraq last year had to be cancelled because of a security risk. | The deployment comes after the prince's planned tour to Iraq last year had to be cancelled because of a security risk. |
| Speaking ahead of this tour, Harry spoke of his relief over the mission. | Speaking ahead of this tour, Harry spoke of his relief over the mission. |
| He said he felt: "a bit of excitement, a bit of phew, finally, [to] get the chance to actually do the soldiering that I wanted to do ever since I joined really." | He said he felt: "a bit of excitement, a bit of phew, finally, [to] get the chance to actually do the soldiering that I wanted to do ever since I joined really." |
| The Prince of Wales's communications secretary, Paddy Harverson, said: "Prince Harry is very proud to serve his country on operations alongside his fellow soldiers and to do the job he has been trained for." | The Prince of Wales's communications secretary, Paddy Harverson, said: "Prince Harry is very proud to serve his country on operations alongside his fellow soldiers and to do the job he has been trained for." |