Harry

Even though they were so young , it somehow did not seem WRONG

Elegran , I think they were asked .

Did I hear that they were asked whether they wanted to? I think I did.

celebgran I think that making those boys walk behind their mother's coffin was disgustingly harsh.

merlotgran

Exactly Mishap he should have refused the question.

Sorry I can't agree he is a young man from a difficult background though.

Well, I can agree he is a young man !

I think the interview was used to serve the interest of the royal family who really want us to believe they are just like any "normal" family. They probably used Harry to help their ratings.

Well there are so many similarities the "slip" almost went un-noticed Absent

At least he didn't come home with a rose between his teeth like Uncle Andy.

gillybob I think only those actually serving in Afghanistan when the redundancy notices are issued will be exempt. I nearly typed Vietnam – there's a Freudian slip if ever there was one.

celebgran - we all know soldiers kill people.

The issue in question here is how a member of the royal family should express themselves on the subject in order to avoid making a volatile situation worse.

IMO the interview should not have taken place at all; and, if it did take place, that Harry should have had some guidance from his seniors on how to express himself over these sensitive matters.

He is a young man from a difficult background who has endured a great deal in his life, albeit in a financially privileged setting. He does not have the maturity to know how best to express himself in such a sensitive area.

As I said before: the bottom line is to ask whether his comments and the way they were expressed have improved the safety of his colleagues and of potential terrorist victims or worsened it.

He has been poorly advised; and he will be finding the cricicism hard. He should never have been placed in this position - permission for the interview should have been refused. It serves no-one's interests.

I don't think he should have lied celebgran just that he should have refused to answer the question.

Come on he must be used to getting all kinds of questions thrown at him and he should know better.

I believe the official word was that no-one currently serving in Afghanistan or recently returned will be on this list of redundancies. Small comfort I know.
Anyway Harry's job will be safe (bless him I know he needs the money) as can you imagine being the person to break that news???

Off with his head !!!!

Absent , you have me puzzled ?

Yeah, he's just back from Afghanistan – together with lots of other soldiers who came home to find that they are about to be made redundant.

Leave the lad alone .

He should have been advised better .

He is just back from Afganistan , so glad it was not my DS who was out there.

SORRY Mean`t to say why should he have lied?

diplomacy can be carried too far.

well Mishap my son was in Army for 10 years but you would have to be quite naieve not to realise they do Kill PEOPLE IN THE ARMY!!!!!

thats harsh Absent, I can still remember seeing him follow his mother`s coffin down the Mall. It was a very young age to lose his Mum.

He may have priviledges he can` t help being born a prince! I find it interesting as he always looks such fun.

Who actually cares what this tiresome, puerile and massively privileged young man says, does or thinks?

Exactly Lilygran.

He's a soldier, not a diplomat. He was asked a stupid question which should never be put to a serving soldier and he answered like a soldier, not a diplomat or a politician. Why wasn't he given some support in the interview? And it's also relevant, I think, that the interview took place over a period of time, not one session in a studio, while he was on active service. No wonder he and his brother don't like the media!

I think you might be misunderstanding what I am trying to say vampirequeen. I am in no way suggesting he should have said "some of the Taliban are quite nice chaps" that would be just plain silly.

My point is he should not have mentioned "killing people". We all know that is what is happening, we all know that is what war is about. But a dignified serving soldier does not tell the world "yes I have killed a few" or whatever stupid remark he made. This remark (made by the third in line to the throne) will only fan the flames of the Taliban and those poor boys and girls who go after him will suffer because of it !

He's a soldier not a diplomat. Do you think the Taliban care whether our soldiers worry about killing them? If he'd said some of the Taliban are quite nice chaps would they think twice about shooting at our troops? They're out to inflict the most damage regardless. They want us out of their country and will kill anyone to achieve their aims.

My point exactly gillybob - the aim is to reduce casualties, not risk stirring up more hatred.

He could have found a diplomatic reply and should have been so advised by his seniors before the interview.

In that case vampirequeen he should have said something on the lines of.....
"I am sorry i am not prepared to answer that question". Which would have been so much more dignified.

Additionally I don't think he has given any thought or consideration for the poor souls still out there or those who will follow behind him. The comments he made will no doubt escalate what is already a hopeless situation.

If anyone is still interested, the interview is to be repeated on BBC3 next Monday at 9 pm.