Who would have thought a royal prince would become happy about going to war? But apparently there is one who is.
Britain's Prince Harry is "over the moon" about going to Iraq.
The 22-year-old, who is third in line to the throne, is said to be thrilled over the news he is allowed to join Blues and Royals regiment for a six-month tour of duty. Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is said to be nervous about his deployment, but proud of the young royal.
A royal aide told Britain's Daily Express newspaper, "Of course she is anxious like any other grandmother would be but she is also very proud of him. From the start she has been adamant that the prince should be treated like any other officer, as long as his presence in the war does not put the men serving with him in any extra danger."
Harry is reportedly destined for the Maysan Province - the most dangerous posting in southern Iraq, where 23 British servicemen have been killed in the past three and-a-half years.
The prince will lead a troop of 12 men from his Household Cavalry Regiment patrolling the area in Scimitar armored vehicles.
A senior military source compared Maysan with the hellish land featured in Mel Gibson's apocalyptic 1979 movie 'Mad Max'.
He told Britain's The Sun newspaper, "Harry's certainly jumping in at the deep end with Maysan. It's well and truly 'Mad Max' land. It's like the land the world forgot up there."
Harry is expected to travel to Iraq in May or June of this year. He will be the first member of the British royal family to serve in military operations since Prince Andrew flew helicopters in the Falklands in 1982.
 |  | |
