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Queen at Harry's army graduationPrince could be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, has qualified as an officer in the British army, a job that makes him eligible for a possible combat role in Iraq or Afghanistan. Dressed in a crisp dark blue uniform and carrying a ceremonial saber, Harry joined his fellow cadets for Wednesday's graduation parade at the prestigious Sandhurst military academy. His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, oversaw the ceremonies. (Watch royals arrive and Harry's crisp military precision -- 1:25) After he qualifies, Harry, 21, could face hostile fire closer to home, with the arrival of his girlfriend Chelsy Davy, who is expected to confront the prince about a recent visit he reportedly made to a strip club. Zimbabwean student Chelsy flew into Britain's Heathrow airport on Tuesday, where eyebrows were raised by the five heavily armed police officers waiting to protect her. Chelsy was not visibly present at the graduation ceremony -- reportedly because she fears diverting attention from her boyfriend. She is expected to attend a ball in the evening, Britain's Press Association said. Harry began his military training last May to become an army officer in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, one of the British army's oldest units. After qualifying as a 2nd Lieutenant, he will be eligible for military service in Iraq or Afghanistan and has spoken of his determination to head to the front lines if called. In an interview to mark his 21st birthday, he said: "The last thing I said was there's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit back home while my boys are out fighting for their country." His regiment is deploying units later this year to southern Afghanistan, where Taliban rebels still pose a security threat. Harry, who will serve as a troop commander in an armored reconnaissance unit, is unlikely to be sent to a combat zone immediately, but it remains a possibility -- his uncle, the Duke of York, saw active service flying helicopters in the Falklands War. This prospect has raised serious questions over the safety of the prince and those serving alongside him amid fears he could become a target for terrorists. Harry's older brother William -- who has also started training at Sandhurst after finishing university -- attended Wednesday's ceremony, alongside their father Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Some 447 cadets were due to qualify alongside the prince. The queen delivered an address to the parade ground and inspected the ranks -- awarding a "sword of honor" to the best cadet. "This day marks the beginning of what I hope will be particularly successful careers as officers in the British army or the armies of our friends and allies," the queen said. "This is not the beginning or the end and many of you will deploy in operations overseas in coming weeks." Wednesday's graduation will help Harry distance himself from his reputation as a troublemaker. Under the intense public scrutiny that followed the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, Harry has hit the headlines for dabbling in cannabis, getting in scuffles and for wearing a Nazi uniform at a fancy dress party. 
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