Prince Harry, now an army officer, could be sent to war zone

Apr 12, 2006, 14:11 GMT

London - Britain's royal family turned out in force Wednesday to watch Prince Harry, widely known as the 'royals' wild child,' graduating as an officer from the elite Sandhurst military academy.

Queen Elizabeth II, who will turn 80 later this month, inspected the ranks of the 219 cadets who, with her grandson, received their commission during the traditional Sovereign's Parade in the grounds of Sandhurst, outside London.

Prince Harry, known for his party life style, weakness for girls and clashes with intruding photographers, is due to join the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry, after his graduation.

One of his senior commanders, Major General Sebastian Roberts, said Wednesday it was 'eminently possible' that Harry could find himself serving in Iraq or Afghanistan within 12 months.

Harry, 21, and third in line to the throne, was also watched by his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, his father Prince Charles, his stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall, and brother Prince William.

William, 23, has just started his 44-week officer training course at Sandhurst, a traditional place for British royals to receive military training.

Wartime premier Winston Churchill, James Bond author Ian Fleming, King Abdullah of Jordan, Uganda's Idi Amin and James Hewitt, the former lover of the late Princess Diana, count among the graduates of the prestigious institution.

It is the first time in 15 years that Queen Elizabeth has personally taken part in the Sovereign's Parade, which usually requires the presence of one member of the royal family.

But she clearly viewed the graduation of her grandson as a special occasion, where all generations of the royal family could be seen together in public, ahead of her own big birthday on April 21.

Harry, in an interview marking his 21st birthday last September, has made it clear that he wants to 'fight for his country' like any other soldier.

He is expected to become troop commander of an armoured reconnaissance unit in Dorset, southwest Britain, which will almost certainly mean that he would be sent into action at some point.

Harry's girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, flew in from South Africa under armed protection late Tuesday. She is due to be at the side of the prince during a Sandhurst ball in the evening.

Reports said both she and William's long-term girlfriend, Kate Middleton, had been told by the royal family to stay away from the official ceremony so as 'not to steal the limelight.'