Harry's two-week holiday from the frontline...for his mother's concert

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Harry with his mother

Prince Harry will make an emotional return to Britain from the Iraqi frontline to attend a memorial concert for his mother Diana at the new Wembley stadium.

Senior officers in Harry's regiment - The Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals - have given Harry permission to take two weeks' leave midway through his deployment in Iraq.

The Ministry of Defence said that Harry had applied in writing for leave, like all soldiers due to go on frontline duty.

Video...see William and Harry discussing their plans for the concert

Each is entitled to two weeks' rest and recuperation if they serve six months, as Harry will do when he goes to Iraq shortly.

The only way Harry would not be flown back to Britain for the concert, marking the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, is if he and the 11 men he commands - who plan to come home at the same time - have to remain in Iraq for operational reasons.

More here...

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Harry, 22, will join his brother William at the concert on Sunday July 1, when Diana would have celebrated her 46th birthday.

The 100,000 sell-out show will star Sir Elton John, who played at Diana's funeral service, and her favourite band, Duran Duran.

Senior Royals, including William and Harry's stepmother Camilla, are due to attend a memorial service in London on the actual date of Diana's death, August 31.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that Wembley chiefs had fixed the date of the July 1 concert without checking whether London Underground planned any maintenance work that day which would affect use of Wembley Park Tube station.

LU officials have confirmed to The Mail on Sunday that maintenance work was planned on July 1 but has now been brought forward.

 

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