London, Apr 26: Prince Harry’s dream of proving him as a soldier by returning to the frontline in Afghanistan were dashed yesterday, when Chief of the General Staff, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said that the decision to send him there would be taken at an “appropriate time”, and not soon.

Richard Dannatt reportedly said that the Prince would not see active service “any time soon”.

“There may well be some point in the future where it will be appropriate to deploy him somewhere – but that is not going to happen any time soon,” The Sun quoted Sir Richard as saying.

According to the paper, the Army head’s comments came as a blow to Harry who is desperate to prove himself as a soldier again. He spent ten weeks as a forward air controller directing jets dropping bombs on Taliban positions in Helmand province.

The prince was forced to return to Britain in late February after news broke out about his posting in Afghanistan by an Australian magazine. At that time, he had said: “I would love to go back out.”

Sir Richard (57) approved Harry’s secret deployment to Afghanistan after banning him from going to Iraq last year because it was considered too dangerous. Yesterday he stood by the decision, saying: “It was absolutely the right decision to send him. It reflected very well on the relationship between the Royal Family, the armed forces and the nation.” (ANI)