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In the same week that his older brother announced his engagement, it appears that Prince Harry may be sent back to Afghanistan. That sounds totally fair.
With the world’s attention turned to the fairytale prospect of his older brother’s Royal wedding, Prince Harry this week got news of a different sort: According to one of Britain’s top generals, Harry could soon be making his way back to Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.
Though the contrast is striking, this is actually good news for Harry: the Prince has been publicly (but politely) expressing his desire to return to the war zone for months.
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Harry, third in line for the British throne, spent 10 weeks in Afghanistan in the winter of 2007-2008. He was pulled from the front after the news leaked on The Drudge Report. As he explained this summer:
I would love to go back, I really would. As long as my military career allows it and politically it’s allowed, then I will serve my country as any other soldier.
At the end of the day you train for war, it’s as simple as that. If we could be at peace then fantastic but if we’re at war then you want to be with your brothers in arms. You train for a reason and you want to be there, you want to help your buddies left and right of you.
Harry is training with the Army Air Corps to be an Apache helicopter pilot. Britain’s Chief of Defense Staff, General David Richards, told the BBC that there was “less risk” involved in that position than in Harry’s previous deployment with the Household Cavalry. Here’s hoping that Harry stays safe: The dreams of millions of American women are at stake! (via The Daily Mail)
More on TIME.com: Prince Harry deploys to Afghanistan