Prince Harry; Canada and Afghanistan?

[[R-DEV]Cheeseman]

Harry spotters hard at it in Alberta
KATHERINE HARDING

From Monday's Globe and Mail

June 3, 2007 at 10:02 PM EDT

EDMONTON — One member of the Royal Family was officially visiting Canada this weekend, but it was rumours of another royal visitor to this country that grabbed headlines around the world.

While Princess Anne toured Saskatchewan, there was rampant media speculation that her nephew, Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, was secretly training at a military base in Alberta for a possible deployment to Afghanistan.

Alberta newspapers said they confirmed the 22-year-old prince's presence at CFB Suffield, one of the largest live-fire training military bases in the Western world. British troops have trained at the base, 250 kilometres southeast of Calgary, since 1972.

“Wild about Harry,” screamed the Calgary Sun's front page Sunday. The tabloid has reported that Harry, a second lieutenant in the elite Blues and Royals regiment of the British army's Household Calvary, arrived last Wednesday at Calgary's airport on a commercial flight dressed casually and wearing a baseball hat. He was then quickly whisked to the military base, according to an unnamed witness.

Another local newspaper reported that Harry, who has a reputation in England as being the party prince, has been seen laughing and joking with other soldiers at the base's café bar.

“He was just talking to the boys. He just blends right in. I think he's just a normal boy,” an unnamed source told the Calgary Herald.

In Medicine Hat, about 50 kilometres east of CFB Suffield, radio stations reported fielding calls from people who also claimed to have seen the red-haired prince.

British and Canadian military officials, as well as the Royal Family's press office, were refusing to confirm or deny whether Harry is indeed training at CFB Suffield. News about his possible trip to Canada was being reported by news outlets around the world.

“The British army, nor does the Canadian army, speculate on the employment of either Prince William or Prince Harry,” Captain Mark Beaman, a spokesman for the British Army Training Unit Suffield, said Sunday.

He said media reports that there is heightened security or a media lock-out at the massive base, which spans more than 2,690 square kilometres, were wrong.

“There is nothing different from what normally goes on … even if there were royalty here, we have the same security that we always have here,” Cpt. Beaman explained.

About 5,000 British soldiers train at the base on a rotating basis.

Rev. Robert Greene, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada's Calgary branch, wasn't surprised that official information about the prince's possible trip to Alberta was not being released.

He noted that Prince Harry's military service has become a major political issue and subject of hot debate in Great Britain in recent months.

The prince had been seeking to be deployed to Iraq with his regiment, but Britain's top general announced last month that Harry would not be going because his presence would pose “an unacceptable” threat, not only to the prince but also to other British soldiers.

Prince Charles's office released an official statement that said his youngest son was “very disappointed,” but would not resign his commission.

Last week, British newspapers began reporting that the British military was quietly exploring ways to send him to Afghanistan.

Father Greene said it's unlikely that Harry would make any public appearances in Canada before travelling back to England.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

His trying so hard to follow in the same footsteps as Prince William. I guess since he didn't get to serve in Iraq he might as will try Afghanistan. Also its interesting; I always thought Canada and Britain relations were only as far as having Queen Elizabeth’s picture on most of our currency, and sharing some British celebrations, but I guess we’re closer than that.

[[R-CON]Desertfox]

Originally Posted by Cheeseman

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

I guess since he didn't get to serve in Iraq he might as will try Afghanistan. Also its interesting; I always thought Canada and England relations were only as far as having Queen Elizabeth’s picture on most of our currency, and sharing some British celebrations, but I guess we’re closer than that.

Canada and the british are pretty close, I have tea with the queen once a week

[Woody]

lol. Same goes with Australia.

[[R-COM]Outlawz]

New Zealand , too

[[T]BludShoT]

Canada's a bit closer than Australia. Aren't they trying to get out of the commonwealth or something?

[[R-DEV]Cheeseman]

I dont know, but we love the Queen a lot for some reason:

[eddie]

It's because we own your arse bitch.

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

LOL
I was thinking last night that England's other former colonies hadn't done so bad for themselves, didn't know there was such a depth of feeling over it.
Well. he is royal family and as such I'm sure there are some strings he can pull to get what he wants.
Especially when it is something that the royals have always done.
More power to him.
I just wish the media had some loyalty to something other than the pound.

[[R-DEV]PARAMEDIC.CA]

Originally Posted by ArmedDrunk&Angry

I just wish the media had some loyalty to something other than the pound.

agreed....


"Aren't they trying to get out of the commonwealth or something?" Yes, we are holding a national plebicite over it as well a new mandatory "clean igloo emission" standard. lol.

Seriously though, I think your thinking about Quebec (a predominantly french speaking province (state) in Canada that wants to be soverign. But, no dice yet! Especially since their last provincial election which the separatist movement took a huge loss in popular vote.

Cheers,
PMEDIC

[.:iGi:.BLACKWIRE]

I was born in Canada but I've grown up in Scotland.
One day I'll return and possibly spend the rest of my days there...

I'll just need to get used to... "what are you talking aboooot".