Poor Harry...

I've just seen on the news that the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt has announced that Prince Harry will not, after all, be deployed to Iraq.

Oh dear.

I'm sure there are sound operational reasons for his decision, not the least of which is the understandable concern over the increased risk to those he would have served with and the possibility of his being kidnapped.

I'm equally sure that the decision was not made because of who his grandmother, father and brother are.

At least I hope it wasn't; what a gift that would be to the republican cause.

Harry joined the army to be a soldier, not to be a desk-jockey; he joined to lead his troops wherever they were sent, including, if necessary, the possibility of his being put in harm's way.

General Dannatt's decision, which takes that risk away, may well prove to be the correct one for all concerned, time will tell.

Sadly, though, on a personal level, I suspect Harry will feel humiliated and even foolish every time he puts his uniform on; as if he is in some way unworthy of wearing it. I also think that he will find it very difficult to look his combat-hardened colleagues in the eye when they return to England.

I for one won't blame him if he resorts to falling out of nightclubs three sheets to the wind again.