Cry God for Harry
The debate on whether Prince Harry’s curtailed tour of duty has been astonishing to watch. The coverage has made me realise how effective at least one Parliamentary programme is. The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme was set up a few years ago to give MPs a taste of military life, bearing in mind that sixty years after the war, and forty years after the end of National Service, fewer and fewer MPs would have served in the military (although the Tory 2005 intake is quite havy on ex-military). I have been attached to the Royal Marines, and actually went to Afghanistan, visiting Camp Bastion (run by an ex-King Alfred’s Wantage boy, naturally) and a FOB. But most importantly, spending time with the military makes you realise not only how exceptional they are but what a separate culture they have. I can tell you that Harry comes across as an absolutely typical British officer, devoted to his task and his regiment. Every one who joins (and remember it is a volunteer army) hopes to see active service. This was no way a PR stunt - much more giving in to the intense desire of HArry to carry out the duties he was trained for.
Sue said on March 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm:
I usually have no sympathy for Harry (apart from when his mother died of course), but I felt really sorry for him when his whereabouts were exposed. The guy just wants to be normal, and I wish he could be (less taxing for all of us if he was!!), but he didn’t deserve to be exposed like that putting not only his life, but other soldiers lives, in danger. Plus it meant he was off the front pages of the papers for a while.
There are rumours that he’ll quit England if he’s not allowed to go back into active service - the rumours say he’ll go to work in Africa for six months……I say “bye bye Harry” if that’s the case. We’re all born with our crosses to bear, but most of us have no choice but to just get on with it. Harry should stop whinging and accept the fact that he’s a royal and as such he can’t and won’t ever live a “normal” life. But, I doubt he’d want my “normal”. He wouldn’t be able to afford to go binge drinking every night if he lived my “normal” life; and Chelsea wouldn’t look twice at him if he wasn’t stinking rich and royal!
But ED, there’s more important stuff to talk about than Prince Harry - what about the baby? How’s your wife doing? Come on, Ed, tell us all, I’m fed up of checking here every hour to see if there’s any news!!
canvas said on March 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 am:
I got the feeling that Harry was treating ‘war’ like a computer game. Also, why did Harry say that he was sorry that he had to return home since he didn’t like England ?! I wonder what his grandmother thinks about that comment?
Ed, why don’t you interact with your readers? Even a little? It’s bad form not to.
:)
Tizzy said on March 4th, 2008 at 4:29 pm:
I think Harry was more ticked off missing out on the decompression in Cyprus than being outed. Must remember that term -
“Did you have a good night out?”
“Yeah, I got completely decompressed”
Didn’t know about Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. “When Members of Parliament make official visits to Service establishments they are normally treated as VIPs of at least two star or Rear Admiral level.” I’m guessing digging your own latrine, like Harry did, is optional.
http://www.ukdf.org.uk/millibrief/M37.DOC
I note that its main sponsors are BAE Systems, Augusta Westland, and Rolls-Royce. Cosy.
Votedave said on March 4th, 2008 at 6:53 pm:
Hi Tizzy, I heard that you’ve left us at Rejects.
Please come back, don’t let a pathetic troll drive you away. You might be interested to know that a poll started by me has unanimously backed the idea of us leaving House of Comments and returning to Rejects to re-start our lively debates.
Tizzy said on March 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm:
Hi VDave! Who said I’d left Rejects??? Don’t think this is the right place for further comment on this, though! I’ll PM you there and you can tell me wazzup.