Harry In Afghanistan

So Henry/ Harry Mountbatten-Windsor, third in line to the British throne, has been out and about in Afghanistan.

Some commentators have said that he shouldn't have been sent there as it endangered his battalion, whereas others were more worried in case he went and got himself killed on account of his high profile. I disagree with both views. He joined the British military, the British military operates in Afghanistan, so like any other soldier it is perfectly reasonable for him to have been deployed there.

And therein lies the problem with monarchy- the very idea that someone should be treated differently by the system from others due to the family into which they happened to be born. If the Royal Family want to get involved in military activity, then those of their number who sign up should be treated like everyone else who enlists, otherwise the whole exercise becomes nothing more than a PR stunt. As Jude Collins said on Radio Ulster yesterday, if Harry had been killed, he would have been seen by the British public as a brave military hero; if he survived, he still would have been seen as a brave military hero- it was win-win for Buckingham Palace. And if they are going to capitalise from such activity, then they must also accept everything that comes with it, including risk.

And of course now we see an onslaught of television coverage of Harry being 'one of the lads' in the battlefield, conveniently at a time when the British military is having problems recruiting young cannon-fodder. No doubt we'll see a sharp rise in the enlistment numbers of misguided individuals who are easily impressed by this PR tour de force. Meanwhile Harry will be relaxing in the back garden of Buckingham Palace, feasting on cucumber sandwiches and sipping iced lemonade.

Another issue raised by this whole incident has been the media blackout on the prince's deployment to Afghanistan. If they are so willing to self-censor in their coverage of military activity on this occasion, then what else are they covering up 'for national security'? The argument has been made that this move was to protect Harry's life. However, this again goes back to the point that he shouldn't be treated differently from his colleagues. If Harry's prize-target status was likely to result in him being treated better by the military compared to the rank-and-file, then he shouldn't have been allowed to join the army. And, as we have seen, he has now been whisked back to base to resume his enjoyment of the butler service and four-poster beds to which he has become accustomed. Meanwhile his pals on the ground in Afghanistan continue to dodge bullets and eat sand.

This charade has just served to highlight the iniquity of the British regal system. The essence of democracy is that everyone has equal rights. Yet here we see a young chap getting preferential treatment by the military simply because his name is prefixed by the word 'Prince'. The British public should not view this as the brave military expedition that it's being portrayed as- they should see it for what it is, a sham.