Prince Harry is to serve on the frontline in Iraq after becoming the first royal in 25 years to be deployed to a war zone, it was announced yesterday.

The 22-year-old, who is third in line to the throne, was said to be "over the moon" after winning his fight to see action alongside the rest of his regiment.

His deployment with the Blues and Royals is part of the next rotation of troops for Operation Telic.

He could leave for Iraq as early as eight weeks for a six-month tour of duty.

The Prince reportedly threatened to resign his commission if he was kept away from conflict.

Clarence House and the Ministry of Defence confirmed he will take on a "normal troop commander's role" in Iraq, rather than a desk job.

He will lead 12 men from a squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment in four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three.

His uncle, the Duke of York, was the last royal to serve in a conflict zone when he flew helicopters during the Falklands War.

Andrew, like Harry, was "spare to the heir" - or third in line to the throne - when he was deployed in 1982.

The Royal Household was consulted as the military held high level talks on whether to send Harry to the frontline.

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt gave the final go-ahead, but the decision carries a number of security considerations.

There are fears that having such a high-profile target could spur on insurgents to attack the Army and raises concerns for the Prince's safety and those serving alongside him.

The number of UK service personnel who have died in action in Iraq since the start of hostilities stands at 101.

The funeral of the last to be killed - Private Luke Daniel Simpson, of 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment - was held on Wednesday.

Defence Secretary Des Browne released details of the latest troop deployments, including two squadrons from the Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR), of which Harry is part.

The announcement came the day after Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined the first step in a phased withdrawal of British forces from the country, with the return of about 1,600 troops within months. The British presence in Iraq is to be cut to about 5,500.

Precise details of Harry's duties are not being disclosed for security reasons.

Armoured reconnaissance units act as the Army's eyes and ears, seeking out the enemy. Sources at the Windsor-based Household Cavalry Regiment said of the Prince: "I would say he is over the moon". They added: "He has done all the courses to take his troop to war and it would have been sad if he was pulled out. He joined the regiment to do what the regiment does."

The Prince is likely to be back in the UK in July, and again in August, for a concert and memorial service marking the tenth anniversary of the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "As part of their R&R, the soldiers have the ability to take a break.

"The commanding officer will make the final decision."

As a career soldier, Harry has always been determined to see action on the front line and fight for his country.

"There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he said in an interview to mark his 21st birthday.

"That may sound very patriotic, but it's true."

Harry will face a long-distance separation from girlfriend Chelsy Davy when he leaves.

Clarence House and the MoD warned of the dangers of speculating exactly where the Prince would serve and said they would be writing to media organisations to ask them to respect the matter of operational security.

Harry graduated as an officer after a 44-week training course at the Sandhurst military academy.

He became an Armoured Reconnaissance Troop Leader last year, after a four-and-a-half month course.

Prime Minister Tony Blair described Prince Harry last night as a "very brave young man".

"I think it's very typical of him," he told the BBC.

"He's a very brave young man and he's a very determined young man who wants to be part of his regiment and part of the Army.

"And I think that shows a very special character on his part."