Michael Smith
The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday
PRINCE HARRY arrived home from Afghanistan yesterday insisting he was “no hero” and pointing to two badly wounded soldiers who returned on the same aircraft as “the real heroes”.
His forced extraction from war-ravaged Helmand province raises new doubts about his future in the army. He will be bitterly disappointed not just at his early withdrawal from frontline operations but also at the insistence of General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, that there is no “immediate prospect” of him going “anywhere else” for at least 18 months.
The prince has made it clear that he will not stay in uniform unless he can serve alongside his men. He is unlikely to be happy with a single token deployment while they are repeatedly sent to battle.
He insisted yesterday that he planned to stay but added that he had already told his commanding officer that he wanted to go back on operations “very, very soon”.
“I know there’s a lot of people thinking, ‘Well, you’ve done it once. Now you’ve got the medal why would you ever want to go back again?’ ” he said.
“At the end of the day, if you’re not there and someone from your regiment or a mate of yours, if something were to happen to them, realistically you would feel indirectly guilty.”
His aircraft flew into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire late yesterday morning after stopping off in Birmingham to allow the two soldiers seriously wounded in a landmine explosion to be taken to the military ward at the city’s Selly Oak hospital. “I’m no more a hero than anyone else. If you think about it, there’s thousands and thousands of troops out there,” the 23-year-old prince said.
The bravery he had seen among his fellow troops had been “humbling”. “There were two injured guys who came back on the plane with us who were essentially comatose throughout the whole way,” he said. “One had lost two limbs – a left arm and a right leg – and another guy who was saved by his mate’s body being in the way but took shrapnel to the neck.
“Those are the heroes. Those were guys who had been blown up by a mine that they had no idea about, serving their country, doing a normal patrol. It is a bit of a choke in your throat because you know that it’s happening.”
His safe arrival back in the UK coincided with increased rocket attacks on the British base at Basra in southern Iraq in which an RAF airman was killed. The Ministry of Defence did not release his name but said relatives had been informed.
The Prince of Wales, who was at Brize Norton together with Prince William, said he was “enormously proud” of his younger son and now understood what the families and loved ones of soldiers endured when they were serving abroad. “As you can imagine it’s obviously a great relief as far as I’m concerned to see him home in one piece,” Prince Charles said. “I know what it’s like when they’re so far away and it’s much worse in a way for those left behind.”
He was speaking as the MoD confirmed that Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, would also be sent on operations abroad, albeit on board ship while serving with the Royal Navy. “It’s our intention to give Prince William as full a taste of life in the Royal Navy as possible,” a spokesman said.
Prince Harry said his brother would have loved to be deployed in Afghanistan and was “jealous” that Harry had beaten him to it. “I know he’d love to, whether it’s on the ground or whether it’s 15,000ft up, bombs strapped to the wings,” he said.
If William does serve on military operations abroad and goes on to become king, he will be the first monarch to have taken part in full military action since King George VI, who served as a naval officer at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Prince Harry worked on the front line as a forward air controller, directing coalition air attacks onto Taliban targets. At one point, he was filmed firing a heavy machinegun at Taliban insurgents across a 500-yard stretch of no-man’s-land at Garmsir, in southern Helmand.
When the news leaked out that he was in Afghanistan, he was leading a two-vehicle armoured reconnaissance detachment as part of a USled assault on a Taliban base near Musa Qala. Seated in the turret of a Spartan armoured reconnaissance vehicle, he was directing attacks by French air force Mirage ground attack aircraft called up at the request of US commanders. Neither the US commanders nor the French pilots knew who he was.
He admitted to being “slightly disappointed” his deployment was over. “I thought I could see it through to the end and come back with our guys and the colonel himself. But I’m back here now and I suppose deep down inside it’s quite nice, I’m looking forward to having a bath. But no, I would like to have stayed.”
His efforts were praised yesterday by Gordon Brown. “The whole country is going to be delighted that Prince Harry has come back safely. We are very grateful to him for all the work he has done in Afghanistan, very grateful to all the soldiers in Afghanistan,” he said.
However, the publicity about his service in Afghanistan has already led police to review his personal security amid threats from Islamic militants. It makes it unlikely he will enjoy the same freedom as before, openly attending West End night clubs.
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hopefully the boys out there can now finish the job now that harry's showed them the way. hooray for harry our bravest bravest prince.
terry steer, bath,
Prince Harry,
Welcome home. Everyone, is proud of you.
I'm glad you had the chance for foreign service. It was
what you wanted. I'm sorry you couldn't have stayed
longer, at least for your sake.
Well done.
Mary Lee Merrill
Mary Lee Merrill, Warren, Maine, USA
I'm at a loss to understand the concept of royalty but, as a citizen of NYC on 911, I salute all British servicemen and women who've been in Aghganistan. This includes Harry. Regardless of how his stage managers behave, he makes a valued vote of confidence in NATO.
Jeff Hatcher, Reading MA, USA
What`s up in Britain? Britains should beeing proud of having such dudes in the Royal familiy. Harry has well done and that was it. God Bless.
Walter T., Berlin, Germany
Well done, Prince Harry.
Helen, NYC, USA
Very clever....by saying "I'm not a hero", he's implying other people are saying he IS one...thereby making the more gullible members of the public think of him as heroic.
A very well exercised PR stunt, methinks.
Paul, Brno,
It would be only fair to advise all those potential army recruits who have been attracted by Harry's short lived Army adventure, that, once in Afghanistan ,they will not receive special Gurkha protection or even pehaps the level of equipment he had.
amador cambra, birmingham,
Does anyone actually realise that the Taliban may have actually discovered Harry's presence without the help of any media. They surely have spies and informants reporting to them and it is likely that his presence could well of put those around him in more danger
Gareth Williams, Powys,
I don't believe a word of it !
In my experience, it's not possible to be on active service in a war zone and have that much hair on your head !
BigAl, Oakleigh, Victoria
Of course you are not.
Alan Ford, Berkshire,
To all the people saying "damn right you're not a hero, pampered prince" or whatever- question: Is there anything that he could possibly do that would make you respect him, or are you always going to resent him, whatever he does, for an accident of birth that made him royal in 21st Century Britain?
Poor dude. He responds to ridiculous media hype calling him a hero and still it seems he can do no right.
ella, london,
I´m Spanisch. Congratulation Prince Harry.
"Paola", Sarón, Spain
So many idoits who do not appreciate what the royals do and obviously do not care about our heritage - plain fools. Most positive comments on here are from abroad how sad is that.
He would still be out there without all this "fanfare" and clearly said hes not a hero - none of this is of his making so get a life.
Wish such a thing as treason was still fully inforced. If you cannot be proud of our Royals and of what it means to be Brittish go live somewhere.
Fred, Romford, Essex
Roll on the Republic. What an utter YAWN!
Bohanka, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
You went in as frontline combat infantry? Why do I find this so hard to believe..
Paul, notts, uk
I'm glad Harry has just enough brains to know that he is no hero for being flown to somewhere like Morocco for a photo opportunity with a machine gun. Glad he had time to wash his hair and put his make-up on before the camera men arrived.
Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Watching yesterday's BBC World in Borneo, Prince Harry being interviewed said, "I'd prefer to be in Afghanistan, not hanging around Windsor Castle. I don't like being in England much."
Who does, your Princeship?
Don't tell me that quote was censored for UK audiences.
Andrew Milner, KL, Malaysia
Harry's short trip to Afghanistan was just another public relations excercise dreamt up by an ever more desperate and dysfunctional "Royal Family " in its search for headlines in the popular press - i.e., the one which features lots of pictures, slow writing and short words. The media including the BBC have been conned yet again by collaborating with The Royals and their advisors and being persuaded to run this (very predictable) story about Harry's being a hero. The story would be better placed if it was published in one of Lady Barbara Cartload's bodice rippers.
To see the Editor of the rag "Majesty" being interviewed by the BBC for her sycophantic opinions regarding Harry's role in the armed forces is just pathetic. He's bound to have exceptional talent and leadership ability in her eyes. He should be a General very soon. How else will she sell her silly magazine ?
Roll on The Republic. When will the British public get up off its knees and get rid off these anachronistic people ?
Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England
Well said Harry, you are no more of a hero than anyone else serving in our forces. This over rated sensationalism in the press is rather empty diminishing any good efforts you may have had.
Farrukh, Woking, UK
I think Prince Harry is a really great person, his mum must be proud of him and protecting him. I think that whoever made public the fact that he was there is a real money grabbing idiot, and nobody should be impressed by this person. Go Harry.
L. Seagrave, Victoria, Canada
Typical response from certain people on subjects concerning
the Royal Family, who can do no right in some people's eyes.
Prince Harry took it upon himself to go overseas to a warzone,
alongside the same men for whom he trained with and learnt
to respect. That man did not have to do that, but felt it was his
duty as an officer in the British Army.
Whose side are you people on? The boy should be praised
for what he has done, and lets not forget one fact here.
If it were not for one 'big mouthed' American website, Prince
Harry would still be in Helmund 'FIGHTING FOR HIS
COUNTRY'.
God bless him, god bless all our warriors in the British
military, and God Save The Queen.
james, lady lake, usa / florida
Too damned right you're not a hero. You're paid to do your job, you did your job, that's it, just like me and hundreds and thousands of others have done in the past without any of this fanfare. Now can we all get on with something else?
Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks
Was it Thomas Cook and Sons who devised his tour
AA, kent,
harry you are a hero, as are all our serving troops. thank you
christopher Owen, london,
Sir, you may not be a Hero, but you sure are a man. God bless
Linnaea, Seattle,