No Idea editors behind Prince Harry leak to be promoted

Sydney, March 4 : The women responsible for breaking the embargo on Prince Harry's deployment in war-ravaged Afghanistan and sparking a fury in the British military are being promoted, rather than being slapped with a sacking letter.

The two female editorial executives at Australia's New Idea magazine are said to be behind the leak of the British royal's service in one of the most dangerous provinces of Helmand.

New Idea's editor-in-chief Robyn Foyster defended herself, saying that she was on holidays when the decision to run the story was made, thus leaving her two colleagues, editor Michelle Endacott and deputy editor Mirella Cestaro, to take the heat from the public and Pacific Publications management.

The magazine has gone underground on the contentious news breach, except denying knowledge of the press embargo, reports News.com.au.

However, the latest buzz is that both Endacott and Cestaro will have their positions upgraded when Foyster leaves the company in June to head up the rival Australian Consolidated Press flagship publication Women's Weekly.

New Idea has been accused of leaking the news that the 23-year-old prince is fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, putting his life in danger.

The story published on the online issue of the magazine in January discussed Harry's secret tour of duty, apparently breaching a strict media blackout on the story.

The storm blew up only after US website the Drudge Report picked up the story and broadcast it around the world.

Drudge Report website named New Idea as one of two media outlets that had broken a secret deal between the young royal and the press.

When a group of journalists visited the prince in Helmand, they were allowed to interview him only on the condition that details would only be publicised once he was safely back in Britain.

However, a headline still available on New Idea's website and dated February 14 reads: "Prince Harry Goes To War in Afghanistan".

Another article, with a January publication date, is headed: "Prince Harry: War Lord".

ANI