Prince Harry to serve in Iraq: defence ministry

Prince Harry will serve in Iraq, the British Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday.

The deployment would make Harry -- third in line to the throne -- the first royal to see combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, fought in the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982.

Defence officials have said Harry would be kept out of situations where his presence would put his comrades at risk. Harry himself has said there is "no way" he would accept special treatment after undergoing rigorous training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

"There is a tradition of royals serving in the armed forces, but Iraq has been a very unpopular war in this country. It's a very dangerous place and a lot of people suspected that the armed forces and the government would really back away from sending the prince into this kind of a situation. But he let it be known that he very much wanted to go," said CTV's London Bureau Chief Tom Kennedy.

Harry, 22, is expected to accompany his troops to Iraq in April or May, CNN reports. He graduated from the academy last year, where he was trained to lead 11 soldiers and four Scimitar tanks.

Harry had threatened to leave the army if he was prevented from joining his comrades on operations.

"There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst, and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country,'' he said in a television interview to mark his 21st birthday.

According to unconfirmed reports, the British police protection officer responsible for Prince Harry, known as Troop Commander Wales, flew to Iraq recently to make security arrangements for his arrival.

The Daily Mail newspaper claimed the 22-year-old is already referred to as a "bullet magnet" by fellow soldiers as his Blues and Royals regiment prepares for an anticipated six-month tour of Iraq.

His troops will likely perform reconnaissance missions in the desert, the Daily Mirror reported.

However, a royal family spokesman has declined comment and the Defense Ministry called the reports speculative, saying upcoming Iraq deployments had yet to be finalized.

Prince Harry and his older brother William, who is also with the Blues and Royals, have joined a long line of royals in the military.

Harry's father, Prince Charles, served as a pilot with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. His grandfather, Prince Philip, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.

Even the Queen trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War.

As the second in line to the British crown, William -- who is also a military officer -- is ineligible for combat service.

*With files from The Associated Press