'Dead Harry' Sculpture Heading To UK

A sculpture portraying a dead Prince Harry in Army uniform with a vulture at his feet is coming to London.

The statue, by American artist Daniel Edwards, shows the 23-year-old clutching a locket of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Edwards says his work is intended to be seen as a memorial to honour those who are willing but unable to serve in Iraq.

In May, the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said Harry would not be sent to Iraq because of the unacceptable risks he would face and the "number of specific threats" made against him directly.

The memorial, which features the Prince laid out before the Union Flag with pennies placed over his eyes and his head resting on a Bible, will go on show at the Trafalgar Hotel in central London next Thursday as part of the Bridge Art Fair.

Edwards, who is based in New York, said: "Prince Harry's spirit must have died the day they told him he couldn't serve.

"That's what this memorial is about."

The artwork is being amended to show the Prince's head with his ears cut off, a reference to reports that militia leaders in Iraq had said they planned to send him back to his grandmother - the Queen - "without his ears".

A bronze casting of his "severed ears" will also be on display at the hotel and will go on sale on auction website eBay at a later date.

Art fair spokesman David Kesting said: "This war memorial is dedicated to the brave at heart.

"But the brave men and women Prince Harry inspired to enlist for combat following his announcement to serve six months in Iraq are not forgotten."

He said visitors may place cards and flowers for the prince at the memorial or send their condolences through the website at PrinceHarryMemorial.com.