to think that Members of the Royal Family shouldnt be serving in the forces?

[imonthefone]

just been reading that the Taliban have issued a commitment to kill Prince Harry;

This re-affirms my long-standing view that MotRF shouldnt be serving; surely they just create a massive security headache for all involved. And, also put the people serving with them at additional risk?

Thats what I think. AIBU?

Not only have they had a long-standing tradition of members joining the forces, whenever a Windsor has made a foray into the private sector it has always ended badly. They have all been tarnished with accusations of using their "connections" or fiddling things, for example Price Edward and his wife, Fergie, even the Middletons.

I don't have a problem with Prince Harry serving out there, I do have a problem with them reporting it. Why didn't they keep it quiet like last time? Makes me think that it's part of the PR campaign after he got his willy out in Las Vegas.

I'm actually really proud of him for going, he could have not gone into the forces / found some way out of it, but he is serving just like any other soldier.

(OK probably not exactly like every other soldier but just about, working alongside them, following orders.)

thats what the Taliban said as well craic

The Duchess of Kent was a music teacher for years:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8798441/Duchess-of-Kent-my-love-for-teaching-music-at-Hull-state-primary-school.html

Thing is, the Army officially answers to the Queen, or to whoever is the Monarch at the time - I would have thought it would be easier for a member of the armed forces to fight for 'King and Country' in the future knowing that King (Charles, William, Harry if it goes a bit wrong) has been in their position and understands what they are asking them to do.

Do you really think Apaches weren't targets already?

Yes, all the royals seem to end up being Commander in Chief of regiments - I am sure the Royals are more respected if they have actually put in some time and have served alongside those they are supposed to lead, rather than just turn up to look at their shiny boots and neatly pressed trousers on high days and holidays. Certainly as far as the male members of the family are concerned anyway.

"Why didn't they keep it quiet like last time?"

a) because keeping it quiet didn't work,
b) because the security issues are totally different between the roles then and now,
c) so that MoD can keep "control" as far as they can of the story, and
d) - by far most importantly - so that there is no possibility of an inaccurate rumour gaining credibility if/when Capt Wales disappearance from his usual haunts is notices, leading to those in less protected positions than a Bastion-based Apache pilot being targeted because Talibs wrongly think their trophy is there.

Fwiw, I doubt this has little to do with the shinnanigans in Las Vegas. This has been on the cards for months and it is well known that Harry wanted to go back if he could, without jeopardising other troops. Now the Jubilee and Olympics/Paralympics are over and with it all his royal duties for the time being, there is nothing to stop him going. He probably went to Las Vegas to have a break, knowing that he was about to be deployed. I doubt this is hastily arranged to take the heat out of his indiscetions - that really would be stupid.

It was never going to be a shot-gun decision as a direct result of Willygate, especially as a) that's his job, and b) iirc he was gutted to be pulled out early from his last tour and was keen to go again. The difference between the media blackout last time and this announcement seemed pretty stark, but Edith makes good points about the reasons for this.

Deploying PH to Afganistan in the week after the Vegas pictures were published isn't realistic as a PR diversion. This would have been months in the planning.

The real scandal isn't that PH is there, it's that any of our troops are there.

He is doing his job, end of conversation surely?

People like Capt Wales can't do right for doing wrong.

YABU... He made the choice to go in furtherance of a noble tradition... most of the arguments against have been for the safety of the other troops and this has been shown to not suffer much from RF presence