'Specific Threats' Halt Harry Iraq Tour
Prince Harry will not deploy with his regiment to Iraq following "specific threats" to target him by insurgents fighting British and US forces.
The head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said his presence in Iraq would expose the 22-year-old Prince as well as the troops serving with him to "a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable".
In a statement, Clarence House admitted that the Prince was "very disappointed" that he would not be going with his squadron in the Household Cavalry.
But a spokesman insisted that he would not quit the Army.
Gen Dannatt said that he had finally reached the decision that the risks were too great after visiting Iraq himself at the end of last week.
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"There have been a number of specific threats - some reported and some not reported - which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual.
"These threats expose not only him but those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable."
A number of leading insurgents have claimed in recent weeks that they had detailed plans to seize the Prince as hostage, even boasting that they had informants in the British camps who would tell them of his movements.
Sky News Foreign Editor Tim Marshall said it was because "he is a magnet for jihadists".
"Sending him in not only endangers those around him - the effect of being kidnapped would be a blow to the entire UK."
Prince Harry during Inspection of New Colours. 
Prince Harry, known as Prince Henry of Wales, who was recently set to leave for Iraq with his regiment, has been prohibited from going.  The Chief of the General Staff (Head of the British Army) General Sir Richard Dannatt, has decided Prince Harry would not be deployed based on his review of specific risks.

"I have decided today that Prince Harry will not deploy as a Troop Leader with his Squadron," said General Dannatt in a statement. ""There have been a number of specific threats – some reported and some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. These threats place not only him but also those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable."

Despite Prince Harry's previous threats to quit the army if he was not allowed to deploy to Iraq, a spokesman has said he will stay in the army. "Let me also make quite clear that as a professional soldier, Prince Harry himself will be extremely disappointed," added General Dannatt.

A number of threats have been a factor in the Chief of the General Staff's decision making, saying that "sending him in not only endangers those around him, the effect of being kidnapped would be a blow to the entire UK."

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) indicated in a press release Wednesday that the decision was based on a military assessment and that Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and the Defence Secretary had been informed of the decision.

The MoD acknowledged that some insurgents in Iraq might try to claim victory with the decision, but that it was important to deny them "such a high value target".