Harry

And long may she reign! [union flag] emoticon!

GNHQ can we have the union flag emoticon for ST George's day?

Just like to point out that Prince Harry was born on 15th September 1984; that by my reckoning makes him 28 years and five months old, not 29 as stated on this thread. Oh, and incidentally I think he's fab, as is Prince William the Duchess of Cambridge! Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and, having observed the numerous Republics in this world, I remain a Royalist to my fingertips! God save the Queen!

Thanks glamma ...

soop another good report from your DS from Camp Bastion in todays MoS page 27.Well done Matt.

joan

I'm not much of a royalist - pretty indifferent really, but Harry reminds me of my youngest lad. David is a captain in the Australian Army Reserves, but is so down to earth that his nickname is 'The digger with (officer's) Pips'. He's also a bit of a jack the lad - always finding some way of having fun, but he takes his army duties deadly seriously. His men love him. He wanted to serve overseas, and started learning Arabic in the hope they'd send him to Afghanistan, but they sent him to East Timor instead. Phew! I was so very relieved.

I'm glad Harry earns his keep, so to speak, and does his military duty properly and professionally. The Taliban are disgusting, violent, religious nutters who destroy everything worthwhile that they touch, so I don't care who knocks them off, as long as they are systematically destroyed. I'd rather they came to their senses and worked out it is better to live and let live, but they seem to be far too brainwashed for that. But if the third in line to the British throne kills off a few, so much the better. After all, they'd happily kill the likes of me, a feminist left-wing atheist, so I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say there must be another way, and Harry should pull his horns in.

I'm glad he did what he did, and that he freely and openly admits it.

Sorry I meant to say Queen Elizabeth's Mother, as she was quite a recluse when her husband died

Hi Lillygran, I believe that Winston Churchil had alot to do with Queen Victoria's coming out of her seclusion, I am sure I have read that somwere.

I very much think that both Prince Harry and William have brilliant people skills, as did their Mother before them, and feel that she would be quite proud of both her sons.

The royal family aren't like actors promoting a film or novelists a book. They are going to be in the news whatever they do. We think we have a right to know about them. When Victoria retired from public view after Albert died, that was a cause of complaint and she was nagged and begged and eventually had to come out of seclusion. It is true that some members seem to enjoy the limelight and dealing with the media while others are different. Of course they can complain about photographers with long lens and "friends" with mobile phones. No wonder Harry has problems distinguishing between his public and private roles, so does everyone else!

I'm tired of the constant media coverage about various members of the Royal Family, and they can hardly complain about media intrusion when they court and benefit from all the "positive" coverage.

On GN the Royal Family are like Marmite 'Love em or hate em'.

I see Harry as a decent person who did show a sense of duty on his recent overseas tour. His natural warmth with the Jamaican P.M. was brilliant and he was a success with all the countries he visited. I am sure he was a good ambassador for our country.

It is ridiculous to read some of the comments that declare him as a thick royal. I can tell you this for nothing he must be quite the contrary to have achieved his wings and be deployed as a serving pilot. He has the respect of his fellow service men and women, that would not be the case if he had not earnt it.

What gets me is if a GN has a son or daughter in the forces they quite rightly have respect from G.N's. Why, because only a fool doesn't accept the danger they put themselves into for us. Harry did not shirk his responsibility, he was committed to putting himself in the same position as all the others in his unit. He has shown guts like them all and I for one respect him just as much as I do all our service men and women. Forces life is nothing like civvie street and if you have no contact with it you won't understand the mentality of having to condition yourself to 'Kill or be Killed'. It's not words to them, it's survival so for goodness sake give them all a break, royal or not why should it make a happeth of difference.

For any GN who has a son, daughter or grandchild in the services I would like to say they are 'walking the walk' and are brave people.

I have no problem about him enjoying himself in whatever way young men do.

That's not what the problem is.

Leave him alone. He didn't chose to be born into the Royal Family. Instead of lounging about and doing nothing he has chosen a very difficult and dangerous career and by all accounts is very well respected by his colleagues and superiors. He is still a young man and single. Let him enjoy himself when he's not protecting the people of Afghanistan and our soldiers against terrorists. He doesn't have the weight of the fact that he will, one day, be King. He appears to be a lot of fun and liked by everyone who comes in contact with him.

I know a lot of you are republicans and dislike the monarchy, but why berate a young man who is just doing his job. He can't answer back!

And, by the way, I understand that the phrase 'taken out of the game (sic)' has been in use by the army for many years before video games were even invented.

of course not merlotgran I find I rarely miss my Dad now but still miss my Mum and its been 28 years!!!!!!!

The times I want to ask her stuff and I think of her most days and her different sayings!! I so wanted to tell her the kids achievements and of course what on earth she would have made of our daughter.

Just that it is another pressure for them that is what I meant.

Welcome home Harry, let's hope you can enjoy some R & R without anymore mishaps and causing so much comment on all you are and do!

I agree the premature loss of a parent leaves an everlasting mark, celebgran. I was 21 when my father died and pregnant with my first child so, like you, I suffered a huge loss. I don't think either Harry or William would want their mother's death used as an excuse or reason for any inappropriate remarks or behaviour. That would be no tribute to her love or guidance.

I lost my father at 16 Meerlotgran and I would say that scarred me, and it obviously does when you lose a parent prematurely regardless of your position in life. He never saw me marry or his grandchildren and the loss leaves it mark for ever.

seems horrendous on different track to make soldiers redundant some reward for risking their lives.

I can't see what Diana's funeral has to do with any of this. It's tragic when young people lose a parent. My younger brother was only 14 when our father died. Being in the media spotlight would have been very hard for them but I don't believe it has scarred them. Harry is a grown man now but has always been immature. Even if Diana were still alive he would be the one that either melts hearts or infuriates people with him impulsive behaviour.

aabsent I agree, how on earth they did it with a stiff upper lip is beyond me, I was 30 when my beloved mother died and I could not stop the tears from moment I saw coffin.

My heart went out to them and has done ever since, for whatever Diana`s faults she loved them dearly and was a loving Mum to them.

nonu so am I, i had to go through 2 spells of my son in Iraq and it is mental torture, I am a lucky one whose son came home, living close to garrison town of Colchester I am only too well aware how many dont.

Mishap I do not think it will make a jot of difference to the atrocitites carried out in Afghanistan, and in some ways do feel Harry is being selfish in wanting the thrill of war in his position.

Yes agree he probably lacks maturity to answer that question and unlike his brother he is more impulsive.

Leave the poor bloke alone, he is in a goldfish bowl and to lose your mother at that young age left them both scarred for life.

absent, hear , hear.

Very cruel indeed, just for the sake of the royal road show.

The wreath - was it white roses? - on the coffin with the word MUMMY on it gave it all away really. The press of the whole wide world kept zooming in on it.
Very clever P.R.

That excursion probably scarred them for life.

I can't help but like them both very much though.

The advice from the usual unnamed government sources of the time was that if Princes William and Harry walked behind their mother's coffin, they would provide protection for their father whose unpopularity was at its height at the time. I think that they were only 15 and 13 and to force them to undergo such an experience in a public show for all those hysterical crowds when their loss was a genuine and painful one was pure cruelty.

I'll never forget it and they've had a place in my heart ever since, especially William.

If they were given a free choice (not the "You do want to don't you?" kind of choice) and they wished to honour their mother that way, then OK. They were old enough to act in a manly way.