Prince Harry graduates; may go to Afghanistan. Are u listening, Bush twins

[gauguin57]

???

William now in military training at Sandhurst, as well. Yoo-hoo! Barbara and Jenna! Put down the margaritas and serve your country!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/12/uk.harry/index.html

(ignore the CNN gossip about Harry's Zimbabwean girlfriend and the strip club)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, has qualified as an officer in the British army, a job that makes him eligible for a possible combat role in Iraq or Afghanistan. ...

After qualifying as a 2nd Lieutenant, he will be eligible for military service in Iraq or Afghanistan and has spoken of his determination to head to the front lines if called.

"... In an interview to mark his 21st birthday, he said: "The last thing I said was there's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit back home while my boys are out fighting for their country." His regiment is deploying units later this year to southern Afghanistan, where Taliban rebels still pose a security threat.

Harry, who will serve as a troop commander in an armored reconnaissance unit, is unlikely to be sent to a combat zone immediately, but it remains a possibility -- his uncle, the Duke of York, saw active service flying helicopters in the Falklands War.

[11 Bravo]

1. Ease up, it's not quite noon on the east coast.

Give them a few more hours to sober up prior to contemplating anything so ugly as sticking their skank asses on the line for Daddy's fuck-up.

[CottonBear]

2. Text of The Queen's speech made following the Sovereign's Parade

Text of The Queen's speech made following the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, 12 April 2006

This is a very special occasion for me, as it is for all of you who are gaining your commissions today. It is also a great occasion for your families and friends. This day marks the beginning of what I hope will be highly successful careers as officers in the British Army or the armies of our friends and allies, and I am pleased to see so many cadets from the Commonwealth and other countries on parade.

Many people seem to believe that the preparation to become an officer is merely a matter of acquiring some basic understanding of military procedures and of achieving high standards in physical fitness. I believe that there is rather more to it than that. It is also the first step in learning how to become leaders.

Many talented young people can learn the principles of management; but effective leadership is far more demanding. It will be your success as leaders that will decide the progress of your careers in the Army. It will depend on how you exercise your responsibilities to other people and how you exercise your responsibilities for other people.

If you look at the careers of successful officers, you will find that, no matter how clever they may have been, what really matters is how they related to people under their command. It is an art not a science, and it needs constant attention and refinement to achieve the highest standards. It was not by chance that the motto chosen for the Royal Military Academy is "Serve to Lead".

I know that everyone here today has been deeply impressed by your smartness and bearing on this parade. This is just the end of the beginning, and many of you will deploy on operations within months or even weeks. I wish you all every success in your chosen career. My congratulations, my prayers and my trust go with you all.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5184.asp

[MADem]

3. Well, he's the spare, and he'll be well inside the perimeter

But that said, at least he's got the stones to want to play a role. Besides, it gives him something to toss at the future king! As a younger brother, that is always a helpful card to play.

[CottonBear]

4. Prince Harry & his Gradmother, QEII, at the Passing Out at Sandhurst

The Queen reviewed the yearly Passing Out as she has since the mid 1940s!



Aldershot, UNITED KINGDOM:
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip attend the Sovereign's Parade at
Sandhurst Military Academy, in south-east England, 12 April 2006.
The Queens' grandson Prince Harry graduated from the elite Sandhurst military academy Wednesday.
Officer Cadet H Wales as Prince Harry is known, will train to become a troop commander, in charge of 11 enlisted men and four light tanks -- a job that could soon see him on front-line duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
His grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, who turns 80 on April 21, and father Prince Charles both turned out for the passing-out ceremony where Harry and 218 other officer cadets in crisp blue uniforms, each carrying thin silver swords, received their commissions after 44 weeks of gruelling training.
Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
?v=1&c=MS_GINS&k=2&d=E3A33B54CA52535BC2B54C5ED53C7467

?v=1&c=MS_GINS&k=2&d=B29FDE601AC0C35C32D4321BFBE8C6AD

?v=1&c=MS_GINS&k=2&d=B29FDE601AC0C35CCE6EB382BCF15C2F

[CottonBear]

5. Some more pictures of Cadet H. Wales (aka Prince Harry) and his family:

Harry is a very handsome young man and his granny is obviously very proud of him today!
These pictures are from the Prince of Wales website:
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/princes/harry/060412_sandhurst/060412_sandhurst.html


Her Majesty The Queen arrives at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to preside over the Sovereign's Parade.


Prince Harry is commissioned today as an army officer after a 44 week training course at Sandhurst.


Prince Harry returns his grandmother's smile as The Queen inspects the new officer cadets.


The Prince of Wales, wearing his uniform of Lieutenant General of the Army, and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Sandhurst for Prince Harry's Passing Out.


As the newly commissioned officers approach The Queen the order of “eyes right” is shouted out and obeyed.


As the new officers march past The Queen, Prince William and the other new cadets salute.

[Staph]

6. Imagine the Bush twins at West Point . . .

Prince Harry (the spare) has just graduated from the British equivalent of West Point, and Prince William (the heir) started there in January. Can you imagine Barbara and Jenna even qualifying for West Point or Annapolis?

I've got mixed feelings about constitutional monarchy, but I have to give them credit for walking the walk. Our American aristocracy just doesn't get it.