The late Queen 'wanted Harry AND William to fight in Afghanistan'

'My grandsons have taken my shilling, they must do their duty': The late Queen wanted Harry AND William to fight in Afghanistan when war broke out in 2001 - but ultimately agreed it was too risky to send the future heir, new documentary claims

• The decision is discussed in the five-part documentary The Real Crown, set to air later this month
• The Queen was speaking to General Sir Mike Jackson, formerly head of the British Army

By James Callery For Mailonline

Published: 00:43, 11 April 2023 | Updated: 00:53, 11 April 2023

The late Queen signalled she wished for William and Harry to join the Afghanistan War when it broke out in 2001 but ultimately agreed it was too risky to send the future heir, according to a new documentary set to air later this month.

The decision over whether the princes should take part in the conflict was discussed at a meeting between the Queen and General Sir Mike Jackson, formerly head of the British Army.

In the five-part ITVX documentary The Real Crown, Sir Mike said: 'What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom remains for the two people involved, and I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion.

'She was very clear. She said, "My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty." And that was that.

'But it was decided that William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great.

Prince William leaving his Tucano training airplane at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire,north east England

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3, 2012

'But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.'

The Real Crown reveals that the Queen had put a lot of thought into the decision as she had detailed information about the risks faced by UK armed personnel in Afghanistan.

Sir John Scarlett, at the time head of MI6, said: 'Of course she has complete clearance to everything.

'She has complete access to an exceptional amount of info and insight for longer than anyone else.

'William was very keen to go.'

He added: 'She's very, very discreet, completely reliable and completely on top of the detail.

'I remember thinking at the time, "Wow, Her Majesty knows more about this than we do".'

Prince Harry in The British Army in Afghanistan (file photo) 

Pictured left: Prince William during his time training in the Army at Bovington in 2007. Pictured right: Prince Harry patrols through the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB (forward operating base) Delhi, where he was posted on January 2, 2008

William completed a training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst spanning 44 weeks after graduating from university.

He was commissioned as an Army officer in December 2006. 

He joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) until 2008 and was later attached to the Royal Air Force and Navy.

Prince Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan, in 2007-8 and 2012-13.

The documentary shows that William was stopped from joining the war, despite wanting to, due to his position as a future King.

Mark Cann, director of the British Forces Foundation, said in the series: '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.

'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.'

The series, which airs on April 20, also examines storylines from Netflix drama The Crown. 

ITV notes that the documentary includes rare archive footage and new interviews with key figures, some of whom have never previously spoken on camera, while also offering insight into The Queen's perspective during key moments.