Prince Harry: Soldier's Protector from Anti-Gay Hate?

Royal protection: Prince Harry

The British publication, The Daily Mail, is carrying a story about a book, "Out in the Army," that former British Trooper James Wharton has written that tells about his ten-year military career.  In a portion of the book Wharton tells about his surprising protector from threats of anti-gay violence: HRH Prince Harry.   Despite his at times scandalous escapades, Harry remains a breath of fresh air in the British monarchy and  never seems to take himself too seriously or ignore the plight of others.  Here are some excepts from the Mail piece:

A gay soldier told last night how Prince Harry bravely rescued him from a terrifying homophobic attack by squaddies from a rival regiment.

The Prince stepped in to save Trooper James Wharton after he was confronted by six soldiers threatening to ‘batter’ him.

Trooper Wharton fled to find Harry – who was his tank commander – and tearfully told the Prince what had happened.

‘I told him, “I think I’m going to be murdered by the infantry.” I climbed into the turret and talked Harry through exactly what had happened. He had a complete look of bewilderment on his face.
‘I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. He said, “Right I’m going to sort this s*** out once and for all.” 

'He climbed out of the tank and I poked my head out of  the turret a few moments later to see him having a go,’ Wharton said.  Harry, a Troop Commander in the Blues and Royals, confronted the tormentors, warning them they would face severe discipline if they continued their violent threats.

The remarkable incident reinforces the view of Harry as an officer with unfailing commitment to the troops under his command. 

The confrontation came on a training exercise in Canada in September 2008 and is detailed in a book Wharton has written about his ten-year military career, Out In The Army – exclusive extracts from which appear in today’s Mail on Sunday.

Homosexuality had been legal in the British Forces since 2000, but there was still a long way to go. I found this to my cost just few years later when I woke badly injured in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the result of a vicious attack by a fellow  soldier at my Knightsbridge barracks. 

He had kicked, punched and battered me with an iron pole as he screamed words like ‘queer’. I looked horrific. The blood was oozing out of me. If he’d continued, he’d have faced a murder charge.

But 12 months later, when one of my officers in the Household Cavalry looked at a photograph of me and my boyfriend on my barrack room wall – and told me we looked good together – I knew I had made the right decision to be open about my sexuality. That officer was Prince Harry, and he was to prove one of my greatest protectors.

Trooper Wharton

Prince Harry Charm's Washington, D.C.

His last U.S. visit drew lots of headlines, but not the type that the British monarchy was looking for.  Especially his naked romp in Las Vegas.  Now, Prince Harry pictured above - yes, he is HOT - seems to be working hard to mend some fences as he charms Washington, D.C., including First Lady Michelle Obama.  A piece in The Daily Beast looks at his charm campaign.  Here are some highlights:

Prince Harry invoked the memory of his mother, Diana, last night as he gave a speech in support of anti-landmine charity the Halo Trust at a British embassy reception, saying Diana would be proud of him.

Diana became the most famous advocate of the charity when she was pictured wearing a clear plastic face mask at a minefield being cleared by the trust in Angola in 1997, shortly before her death.

"My mother, who believed passionately in this cause, would be proud of my association with Halo. In her special way, she adopted it as her own. She would join me, along with all of you, I'm sure, in praising Halo for the amazing work that it has done over the past quarter century, and in hoping that one day soon its humanitarian work will be done.

Harry's speech was the final engagement on an action packed day which saw him wow the Capitol and have a surprise visit with First Lady Michelle Obama.

The First Lady welcomed the 28-year-old prince who was said to be a 'surprise guest' to her home on Thursday afternoon for a reception in honor of military mothers and their children.

Mrs Obama said: "As you all may know, Prince Harry is a captain in the Army Air Corps in the British Armed Forces," and added, “He wanted to be here to thank you for your service.”

Accompanied by Sen. John McCain, Harry visited Capitol Hill and viewed a photography exhibition staged by the anti-landmine organisation the Halo Trust which was closely associated with Diana.
Harry's arrival was marked by hundreds of screaming women, many of whom were said to be staffers.

Senator McCain said: 'He was kind of embarrassed [by the screaming], I think a normal reaction. I'm sure it's not the first time he has had that experience, but in all the years I've been coming here I've never seen such an unbalanced gender gap."

It is Harry's first return to the U.S. since being pictured naked during a game of strip billiards in a Las Vegas hotel.

The tour will give the Prince the chance to show that he has matured enough to take on a senior role in the royal family, as his grandmother cuts back on her workload.   Ahead of this latest trip, the prince's private secretary said Harry wanted to highlight "once again the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice of our injured servicemen and women—-our wounded warriors."

HRH Prince Harry (L), stands with first lady Michelle Obama during an event to honor military families at the White House (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

Prince Harry Kisses Gay Man for a Beer

RI used to think that Prince William was the nicer looking of Princess Diana's sons, but as he has gotten older, Prince Harry has turned out quite good looking - and despite some of his misadventures he seems to overall have a good sense of humor. Far too many celebrities, actors, politicians and others take themselves far too seriously, so humor and being down to earth - to the extent one can be having grown up in the fishbowl of the monarchy - is a plus. Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that Harry gave a gay fan a kiss while out drinking with other RAH trainees. Here are some highlights from Newsoftheworld.uk:

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But male admirer Rocky Bennett got a smacker from Prince Harry in exchange for a LITTLE BOTTLE . . . one full of the fun-loving royal's favourite brew, "reassuringly expensive" Stella Artois lager. The starstruck 21-year-old made his cheeky move when he spotted the royal boozing in a club.
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Ricky grinned: "I went up to him and told him I would love to buy him a drink - if he gave me a kiss, Harry just burst out laughing, threw his arms around me and kissed me on the left cheek. Rocky, a petrol station manager, said: "It was the best moment of my life. I just burst into tears, he's so down to earth."
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The bizarre encounter came as Harry, 25, enjoyed a midweek night out in Stevenage, Herts, away from his usual West End haunts. The prince and his fellow trainee pilots chose the Liquid nightclub close to RAF Henlow. "It was so crazy to see Harry out in Stevenage," explained Rocky. "It's not exactly the most exotic place. He went upstairs to the VIP lounge at first but then came down to the main bar.
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"He was with about eight other guys and security was tight but when I went over to him he was lovely. I told him how much I had admired his mother Princess Diana and how I thought she would be proud of him. Harry's spokesman confirmed the prince and his pals had been unwinding after a day in the classroom. The prince has confided to friends he is determined to return to Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot. "It is my duty to support the lads," he said. But no kissing - unless there's a beer involved, of course!

Prince Harry Forced to Return To UK

I find it ironic that it was reported closet case and often yellow journalist, Matt Drudge, who blew Prince Harry's cover fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan, thereby placing both Harry and his fellow servicemen at risk. Not exactly what responsible journalism, but then much of what one finds on the Drudge report is not exactly responsible or unbiased reporting. Leave it to an American publication to endanger Harry's life. Here are a few of Prince Harry's comments on it all via Toweleroad (http://www.towleroad.com/2008/03/prince-harry-ro.html):

The British media kept to their side of the bargain. I'm very grateful for that and thanks to all the British media for keeping their mouths shut. And I know for a fact that there was stuff they did behind the scenes to stop stuff coming out which was massively kind of them. But at the same time, it was foreign media that spilled the beans. I didn't see it coming. It's a shame. Angry would be the wrong word to use but I am slightly disappointed. I really thought I could see it through to the end and come back with our guys and the colonel himself. But I'm back here now and I suppose deep down inside it's quite nice. I'm looking forward to having a bath but, no, I would like to have stayed back with the guys.

Royal Male Beauty

For a long time I though William was the cuter of the two, but lately Harry is looking pretty hot while William seems to look more like the Queen. While these two guys have everything in terms of material possessions, I cannot imagine living in the public scrutiny as they do. As Harry said in an interview, they will never be "normal."