The Armed Forces have hit back at reports that Prince Harry has been cleared to fly Apache helicopters in Afghanistan next year.
One senior military source told Sky News: "Someone at Clarence House has been speaking out of turn."Harry is due to complete his training early in 2012 and is expected to carry out weeks - if not months - of flight duties in the UK before being deployed to theatre.
The source suggested that such a decision could only be made at that point.
The highly decorated senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "The appropriate time to sign off on whether third-in-line should go is then.
"Who knows what Afghanistan will be like by that point?
"Someone on their side, someone at Clarence House, has been speaking out of turn."
Another source claimed that far from being at an advanced stage, the planning necessary to send a member of the Royal Family into a combat zone had not gone further than preparatory discussions.
The source said: "There are no plans on the table to send Harry to Afghanistan. Pure and simple. He's not even finished his training."
There is a degree of anger at what some in the military view as an attempt by Clarence House to secure Harry's trip to the front.
Whilst the royal might not be at greater risk than other Apache pilots, a number of military sources have suggested reports of the Prince's pending arrival may bring extra attention to those currently in Afghanistan.
A source said: "What you'll find is the Taliban paying extra attention to Apaches in future. Greater attention means a greater risk of contact - and of course that means our pilots fly in greater danger."
Read more: http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16012728
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