LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain’s Prince Harry is to quit flying army helicopters and take up a desk job organizing commemorative military events, Kensington Palace said Friday, January 17.
Captain Wales, as he is known in the military, served in Afghanistan as an Apache co-pilot gunner during his 3 years with the Army Air Corps.
Kensington Palace said in a statement that 29-year-old Harry “has completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and will now take up a Staff Officer role”.
“His responsibilities will include helping to coordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the Army in London,” the statement said.
Harry, the youngest son of heir to the throne Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, and younger brother of Prince William, will retain the rank of captain, the palace said.
On his second tour in Afghanistan in late 2012 and early 2013, Harry served as an Apache co-pilot gunner for 20 weeks in the restive southern Helmand province.
He later qualified as a commander in the attack helicopter.
Harry said during the tour that he had killed Taliban fighters, who were taken “out of the game” by his unit if they targeted British soldiers.
His first tour in Afghanistan had to be cut short in 2008 when a news blackout surrounding his deployment was broken.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom de la Rue, who commanded Harry in the Army Air Corps, praised the fourth in line to the British throne for his service.
“Captain Wales has reached the pinnacle of flying excellence as an Apache pilot, particularly in Afghanistan and, in the process, has proved to be a real inspiration to the many Army Air Corps officers and soldiers who have come to know him so well over the last two years,” de la Rue said.
All British combat troops are due to withdraw from Afghanistan before the end of 2014.
British royals have a long tradition of service in the armed forces.
William worked as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot until September, when he announced he was quitting to focus on his royal duties and charity work following the birth of his son Prince George in July.
Prince Charles served as a naval officer in the 1970s and like his sons is a qualified helicopter pilot.
Charles’ younger brother Prince Andrew saw active service during the Falklands war between Britain and Argentina in 1982, commanding a warship, while their father Prince Philip had a distinguished naval career during World War II.
There has been speculation that Harry’s new job will allow him to set up an international version of the US Warrior Games, a Paralympics-style event for injured troops.
Harry is patron of Walking With The Wounded, a charity that supports wounded veterans, and trekked to the South Pole with a group of injured troops from Britain, the US, Canada and Australia last year.
He travelled to the US to support competitors in the Warrior Games last year and said he was keen to bring the event to Britain.
A palace spokesman said “detailed feasibility work” was being carried out to see if Britain could host the first international Warrior Games this year.
“A final recommendation will be made at the end of January,” the spokesman said. – Rappler.com
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