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Prince Harry will serve in Iraq Prince Harry will serve in Iraq
(40 minutes later)
Prince Harry's regiment will be deployed to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. Prince Harry's regiment will be deployed to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Clarence House have confirmed in a joint statement.
His regiment, the Blues and Royals, has been told it will serve in Iraq as part of the latest deployments. His Blues and Royals regiment will serve in Iraq for six months as part of the latest deployments.
The prince will be the first senior royal to serve on the front line since Prince Andrew in the Falklands in 1982.The prince will be the first senior royal to serve on the front line since Prince Andrew in the Falklands in 1982.
Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to give more details on the deployment in a written statement to the Commons later. While in Iraq, the prince will carry out "a normal troop commander's role", the statement said.
Earlier, the MoD declined to confirm rotation details, as have Downing Street and Clarence House. The Royal household has been consulted throughout Joint MoD and Clarence House statement class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6385169.stm">Iraq deployment no surprise
Reconnaissance This will involve "leading a troop of 12 men in four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three", the statement added.
"The decision to deploy him has been a military one, made by Chief of General Staff, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, in conjunction with Cornet Wales' commanding officer," it said.
"The Royal household has been consulted throughout."
Further details of exactly where Harry would serve, or his specific role, would not be released because such a move would be "potentially dangerous", the statement added.
Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to make a written statement on the deployment to the Commons later.
Prince Harry graduated from Sandhurst in April last year and qualified as an armoured reconnaissance troop leader in October.Prince Harry graduated from Sandhurst in April last year and qualified as an armoured reconnaissance troop leader in October.
MILITARY ROYALS Duke of Edinburgh served in the Royal Navy during World War IIPrince of Wales obtained RAF wings, joined the navy in 1971 and now hold ceremonial posts in the Army, Royal Navy and RAFPrince Andrew saw active service during the Falklands WarPrince Edward had a brief stint with the Royal Marines HAVE YOUR SAY He is in the Army and wants to be treated like any other junior officer Kevin class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5560&edition=1&ttl=20070222111306">Send us your comments
class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6385169.stm">Iraq deployment no surprise Known to colleagues as Troop Commander Wales, he is able to lead reconnaissance units known as the Army's "eyes and ears".
Harry following tradition Prince Harry profile
Known to colleagues as Troop Commander Wales, he is able to lead 11 men carrying out reconnaissance work using four light armoured Scimitar tanks. Such units act as the Army's "eyes and ears".
It comes after Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs that 1,600 British troops would return from Iraq within the next few months.It comes after Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs that 1,600 British troops would return from Iraq within the next few months.
He said the 7,100 serving troops in the south of Iraq around Basra would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.He said the 7,100 serving troops in the south of Iraq around Basra would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.
Prince Andrew, Harry's uncle, was a helicopter pilot in the Falklands conflict.Prince Andrew, Harry's uncle, was a helicopter pilot in the Falklands conflict.