Now THAT'S a proper Prince Royal!

UK's Prince Harry fighting in Afghanistan

The UK's Prince Harry has been serving on the frontline in Afghanistan and seen combat, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed Thursday.

He was deployed 10 weeks ago and his fellow soldiers were sworn to secrecy.

The prince's status is currently being reviewed, the Ministry of Defense said.

Harry is third in line to the British throne and serves with the Blues and Royals.

His main role has been as a member of a group called Joint Tactical Air Control, or JTAC.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm out here as a normal JTAC on the ground and not as Prince Harry" he said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving. For the last 10 weeks, he has joined the thousands of members of the British Armed Forces who have served with such distinction in difficult circumstances in Afghanistan since 2001."

In a pre-deployment interview with the British Press Association, he said: "If I'm wanted, if I'm needed, then I will serve my country as I signed up to do."

The head of the British Army, Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt, said Harry's deployment had been kept secret after striking an agreement with the media.
British and international media -- including CNN -- had agreed not to report Harry's deployment because of security concerns for him and his unit. The military confirmed the operation after a U.S. Web site broke the news blackout.

Dannatt said: "What the last two months have shown is that it is perfectly possible for Prince Harry to be employed just the same as other Army officers of his rank and experience.

"His conduct on operations in Afghanistan has been exemplary. He has been fully involved in operations and has run the same risks as everyone else in his Battlegroup. "In common with all of his generation in the army today, he is a credit to the nation."

Dannatt added that he and senior commanders will now be reviewing Harry's deployment.

Last year, the military ruled Harry could not be sent to Iraq because publicity about the deployment could put him and his unit at risk.

Oh, HELL yeah. He could have played it safe, graduated from Sandhurst and accepted a safe assignment designed to protect the third in line to the Throne of England. But Lieutenant Harry Wales (His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales to you civies) is a soldier. Denied serving with the Blues and Royals in Iraq; Lt. Wales retrained as a Forward Air Controller and has been serving in combat directing RAF airstrikes against the Taliban.

In combat. Exposing himself to enemy fire to accurately direct incoming jets and helicopters to kill the enemies of western civilization. Somewhere, Henry V is smiling.

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

HRH Prince Henry of Wales will pick up many titles and honors in his life. But the one that will probably carry the most weight in his heart will be the simplest. Tommy.

Uh-RAH, Leftenant Wales!

Tooth update.

Had a brief check-in with the dentist. She was very pleased with how I'm healing. Next week, I have four more extractions.

Which will leave me with about eight teeth. sigh. I understand the need to minimize trauma, and how allowing healing now will reduce the need for relining later, but damnit, I want my teeth!

We confirmed that I'm getting both upper and lowers, and that due to my God-like gag reflex (I'd be a terrible gay dude) I'll be getting a partial bridge for the uppers. This means I'll need to do some research on dental adhesives and the like.

Lower impressions next week. Gak.

I also told them (and will repeat next week that I need to have appointments at 1630 or later. Just too much stress involved in trying to get back and out the door at work in time to catch a train, make a tricky bus connection, and get there in time.