Prince Harry fighting in Afghanistan

LONDON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Gen. Richard Dannatt, professional head of the British Army, said he is disappointed by the media's coverage of Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan.

"I am very disappointed that foreign Web sites have decided to run this story without consulting us," Dannatt said in a statement posted on the Ministry of Defence's press Web site Thursday.

"What the last two months have shown is that it is perfectly possible for Prince Harry to be employed just the same as other Army officers of his rank and experience. His conduct on operations in Afghanistan has been exemplary. He has been fully involved in operations and has run the same risks as everyone else in his Battlegroup," Dannatt said. "In deciding to deploy him to Afghanistan, it was my judgment that with an understanding with the media not to broadcast his whereabouts, the risk in doing was manageable. Now that the story is in the public domain, the Chief of Defence Staff and I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving."