Prince Harry Promoted, Now Captain in Brit Army

By Christine Fenno Posted Apr 17th 2011 08:13AM

This weekend, Prince William's best man is the one being toasted.

St. James Palace has announced that Prince Harry, after five years of service in the British army, has been promoted to the rank of captain.

The prince, 26, is in training to be an Apache helicopter pilot, according to BBC News. He began his army stint in 2005, and served in Afghanistan in 2007-'08. His deployment was halted after 10 weeks, due to fears that news leaks could threaten the safety of Harry and fellow soldiers. Prince Charles made a private visit to his son while Harry was on duty in Afghanistan.

Harry, third in line to the throne, was known as Officer Cadet Wales early in his military career. The promotion from lieutenant to captain comes not long after his recent four-day trek to the North Pole.

William and Harry, then 15 and 12, lost their mother, Diana, when she was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.

The tour of duty in Afghanistan made Harry the first member of the British royal family in 25 years to serve in a war zone, the BBC reports. And he's expressed a desire to return to the front lines, pointing out that the army's investment in him shouldn't become a frivolous waste.

"You become a very expensive asset...The training's very expensive, and they wouldn't have me doing what I'm doing," he said. "I'd just be taking up a spare place for somebody else, if they didn't have me going out on the job."

Tags: prince harry, Prince William

Comments

(37)

Sunday 17 April

By Ellis

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Without socialized medecine the average British citizen couldn't afford to go to the dentist while these "Royal" morons suck the British trough dry. Put them all to work in the mines. They couldn't make good cannon fodder

By JP

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Did you not read the article? He served and wants to go back. Wow when did you go over there for your country? As a mom of a son who did serve in the Mideast each and everyone of those boys are my hero's and have my undying gratitude and love. Each of those boys has their mom's sense of duty. It's with humbleness and pride I say thank you for your sacrifice.

By joan

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Ellis it is spelled medicine and you are wrong in your statement a sad individual.

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Thanks Joan, is a typo the best you've got ? I can picture you sitting at the TV during the "royal wedding" squeaking, squeeling,and crying.

Monday 18 April

By simpsonsimpmike

The average military joe risks getting a ride in a body bag, but not these two buffoons they don't even the hands dirty.

Thank you jwblackpride & simpsonsimpike. Finally, two that get it. Could you imagine what would happen to anyone that let these two get even a paper cut ? The old queen would have them drawn & quartered. And how about the father & grandfather, Prince Charles & Prince Philip walking around with all those medals. Who do they think they are, Audie Murphy??

By judy warren

congrats your mom is looking down and with a bright smile saying her sons are doing all right for them selfs.

By KS.

Harry is so cute. He is very much the man. Even if he is the"spare". And his teeth are so normal..LOL!!What a doll....

By fiona

That's because his real father is fairly good looking as well. Doubt he'll ever get a DNA test.

By sbrewton9

I have to give Chucky some credit for treating Harry like he was his real son all this time Clearly he cares for him in a fatherly way. But Harry's biological daddy he ain't. I don't think horse faces and male pattern baldness appear in Harry's DNA markers. Google a pic of his real dad and you will see there is no denying the true baby daddy.

By jim willner

GREAT PICTURE OF HARRY AND HIS DAD....

By Ishmail

Great picture of Harry but I don't see his dad in the picture. His dad is that Irish horse trainer.

By Spike

I did not serve in Helmend Province when Harry was there (I was in Kandahar). But a Friend of mine did (LTC Bill Connor). He had personal contact with Harry and found him to be engaging, professional and an officer who did his duty well. He served the mission, his soldiers and country well! Congrats Harry well deserved! One soldier to another you have my respect.

By crafashion.com gucci lv chanel bag fashion online

her sons are doing all right for them selfs. :)

By Lori Walker

None of the Royal's are very smart. Notice they aren't graduating from some college some where This is a big deal to make Captain Big Deal Makes them look brighter than the average Brit God Kate, I hope you raise the standards of this dingy group The Queen Mom, gone now but she drank and played the horses everyday for most of her senior life Wow What a bunch

You must be a Brit. The way you type,speaks volumns.

By Billy

I have great respect for William and Harry. They like many have gone through a lot of public scrutiny that many haven't the slightest idea about, then losing a real humanitarian in their Mother, and they both came out very grounded and they served their Country by actually putting their lives' on the line, unlike these politicians in the U.S. who make themselves and their offspring look like a bunch of special, deserving, cowards. Hats off from one Veteran to 2 more great Soldiers!

By jbsasktheape6666

What a joke, how don't you promote the prince? Only captain?
This is the disney world of great briton. Kings and Queens, dragons and castles.

He served in Afghanistan and I know from mutual friends (as stated above) he did so with honor and never used his status as an excuse. He did what every other young officer did without regard for his safety. For those of us who did serve he is a brother. If he were a dud in Helmend Province that word would have spread also.

By Helena

Yeah we all know Prince Charles isn't Harry's real dad. The Royals are keeping it secret or in denial.

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