Prince Harry Won't Be Deployed to Iraq

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

One young soldier who will not be heading to Iraq this year - Britain's Prince Harry. He serves the British military as a tank commander and he was scheduled to be deployed. But Britain's top general announced yesterday that specific threats to the prince, who's third in line to the throne, are too serious to overlook. It was decided that if the prince went, he would become a target, along with the men under his command.

The palace says Prince Harry is disappointed, and so are British fans of royal tradition. Members of the British royal family have served in the military or navy for centuries. As recently as the 1980s, Prince Andrew went to the Falklands War. STEVE INSKEEP, host:

And in recent weeks, a British newspaper recalled another Prince Harry who became King Henry V. He went into battle in the year 1415 and his acts were immortalized by William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare who had the character King Henry speak of we happy few, we band of brothers, going into battle.

The king's speech referred to those who had missed that battle. Gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.