Prince Harry "Risking His Life" in Afghanistan

[Benvolio]

Edward was in the direct line of succession when he was born and the decision was made for him to carry the name Mountbatten-Windsor.

 

[JayHawk]

He's also a prince, so something tells me he doesn't hand-stitch all of those.

Actually being the military demands a certain unity of spirit and the focus that we all busted the same chops and went through the same ordeals to earn our commissioned or enlisted uniform. Without that unity you do not have a military. Just a bunch of similar looking folks who work at the same place. I know both Wills and Harry demand the same treatment in everything else in how they are handled compared to their military peers. SO I imagine they attained their own goals in boot camp and earned their own stripes. Mostly because the troops love them. They wouldn't love fakes. Also, it isn't hand stitching I am referring to either. Those are only on the top blouse and sometimes pants. Every other garment has to be identified as yours using paint pen clothing markers and stenciling your name and ID # inside. Hats, socks, underwear, t-shirts, boots, and even the tops and bottoms because they get washed as a company and there could be fifteen SMITH name tapes.

 

[Kulindahr]

Wales as his surname? Not Windsor?

This is exactly what I thought as well, I'd have assumed Windsor would have been chosen as the correct surname, don't know why they're both (William & Harry) going by 'Wales' which sounds a bit silly - and in any case, it's their father who's the prince, not either of them (yet)

Technically it's not a surname, but I've never understood the tradition well enough to explain it. The articles Lestatnj linked are helpful, but there's something missing. I know it has to do with the way nobles were introduced for centuries -- if someone was Earl of (to make up a name) Frond, he would be formally introduced as "Frond", which wasn't really a name so much as an indication of where he fit in the feudal hierarchy and framework. One way to think of it is how a king would say, "I am France" (or wherever)"; now, William "is Cambridge" and Harry "is Wales".

 

[Kulindahr]

He's also a prince, so something tells me he doesn't hand-stitch all of those.

His grandmother would have a fit if he didn't. Just as when William went to various places in the world and got his hands dirty and back sore helping the poor, and polished his own boots when he was doing military service, Harry does it all himself. If he skimped at all, he would get a Royal dressing-down back at Buckingham.

 

[star-warrior]

The troops serve Queen and Country. Prince Andrew served in the Falklands War and it seems natural his nephews would too, and having them there amidst the fighting also adds to the sense of Queen and Country etc..

If politicians had their children in the armed forces, maybe they'd be less willing to proclaim war.

 

[T-Rexx]

I didn't recognize him with his clothes on.

 

[rareboy]

And if anyone doubts the size of Harry's blue balls............

 

[rareboy]

Balls run in the royal family.

 

[Kulindahr]

The troops serve Queen and Country. Prince Andrew served in the Falklands War and it seems natural his nephews would too, and having them there amidst the fighting also adds to the sense of Queen and Country etc..

If politicians had their children in the armed forces, maybe they'd be less willing to proclaim war.

Make it a requirement for office: either you or your children must have served.