Prince Harry during an exercise in the United Kingdom in this file picture taken in November 2005. Prince Harry's regiment looks set to be heading for Iraq and the third-in-line to the throne could be the first royal in 25 years to see combat. - Reuters

LONDON (Reuters):

Britain's Prince Harry, who is third in line to the throne, is being deployed to Iraq where he will become the first British royal to serve in a war zone for 25 years.

A defence ministry spokesman said, yesterday, the red-haired prince would be sent to Iraq with his "A" Squadron of the Blues and Royals regiment "over the next few months" as part of the latest British troop rotation.

But the deployment of the younger son of the late Princess Diana may be a major security headache for military commanders as the prince could be a target for insurgents and a magnet for suicide bombers.

Courageous decision

"This is like President Bush sending a son to the front-line. The decision is both dangerous and courageous at the same time," said Evening Standard royal correspondent Robert Jobson. "It is a success for Harry, but he has become the number one target for insurgents," he added.

Harry could be the first member of the royal family to face combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War. Harry's great-grandfather, King George VI, saw action in World War One.

The announcement comes a day after Britain said it would be withdrawing almost a quarter of its 7,100 troops from Iraq in coming months. But British soldiers would remain in the country into 2008 if Iraq wanted them to provide support and training.

Threatened to quit

Harry's regiment will leave for Iraq in May or June and could serve up to seven months there, Defence Secretary Des Browne said in a statement.

The 22-year-old prince, who as a second lieutenant has the rank of cornet in his regiment, had reportedly threatened to quit the army if not allowed to serve on the front-line.

Harry, the younger son of Charles, the Prince of Wales, has trained to become troop commander and will be leading 12 men in four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

His elder brother, Prince William, is also in the Blues and Royals, but is most unlikely to serve in a war zone because he is second-in-line to the throne.