It’s been revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth II initially wanted both of her grandsons to go to war and serve their country.
But then, after some thought, the Queen apparently decided Prince William – AKA a direct heir to the throne – shouldn’t go because it was too ‘risky’.
WATCH: Queen Elizabeth II’s line of succession
In the upcoming ITV documentary, The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, former Army head General Sir Mike Jackson recalls a private meeting he had with Queen Elizabeth.
And the General says in the documentary that during this meeting, the Queen was adamant that both William and Harry enlist in the Army.
“She was very clear. She said, ‘My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty.’ And that was that,” Sir Jackson said.
But then Sir Jackson reveals why only Prince Harry went to Afghanistan.
“It was decided that William, as heir to the heir, the risk is too great.”
“But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable,” Sir Jackson continued.
Prince William wanted to enlist in the Army and go to Afghanistan though, according to Mark Cann, director of the British Forces Foundation.
In The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, Mr Cann says:
WATCH: Prince Harry says he’s ‘better than William’ in unearthed interview
“William was very keen to go. Unequivocally. But it was complex, and some very great minds and experienced people took a view on it.”
“I think it was really tricky. Anybody who’s in the military who hasn’t actually been on operation feels a sense of disappointment,” Mr Cann continued.
“And I think especially that was the one [war] at the time, you’ve got everyone around you at the time who’s been involved in it. So there is a sense of disappointment.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
