Commemoration of Falkland's liberation

The Queen, Baroness Thatcher and war veterans have attended a church service marking the 25th anniversary of the Falkland Islands' liberation.

On June 14 1982 the Argentineans surrendered, giving victory to UK forces sent to recapture the overseas British territory, following the invasion by Argentina in April of that year.

The Queen, Tony Blair and former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher are joining veterans and bereaved relatives in the UK while Falklanders marked the day with the Earl of Wessex and key figures from the conflict.

British forces entered Stanley, the Falklands Islands capital, on June 14 1982, ending the 74-day occupation of the islands in the South Atlantic.

The conflict, which followed the Argentinian invasion of April 2, killed 255 British servicemen and more than 600 Argentinians.

Ahead of a day of events to mark the anniversary on the Falkland Islands, dignitaries and veterans of the conflict gathered at Stanley's Christ Church Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving.

Among the first to arrive was Lord Parkinson, who served in Margaret Thatcher's War Cabinet in 1982.

Honoured dignitaries who arrived at the cathedral included Sir Rex Hunt, who was governor of the Falkland Islands before and after the Argentine occupation.

Also in attendance were Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram, Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Lieutenant Colonel Chris Keeble, who was second-in-command to Colonel "H" Jones who lost his life but won the Victoria Cross leading a charge against an enemy position at the battle of Goose Green.

After the church service, members of the congregation filed out and joined several hundred islanders who were making their way to Stanley's Liberation Monument for the main commemorative event.

As guests took their places at the Liberation Monument, the Earl of Wessex received the Royal salute from representatives of the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF and the Falkland Islands Defence Force.

Lined up in front of stone panels bearing the names of the 255 British servicemen killed in the Falklands War, Prince Edward and other dignitaries stepped forward to lay wreaths.

The Prince's wreath, laid on behalf of the Queen, read simply "In Your Memory".

Lord Parkinson laid a wreath on behalf of Baroness Thatcher, which carried a hand-written message reading: "In memory of those who gave their lives for Britain and for the Falkland Islands, we will never forget them."

A cannon fired from nearby Victory Green signalled the start of a minute's silence as well over 1,000 islanders - representing almost every household in the Falklands - stood remembering the sacrifices made for their liberation.

As the parade moved off to march past Government House, a flypast of RAF aeroplanes and helicopters passed overhead.

Among those who laid wreaths was Falklands War hero Lieutenant Colonel Chris Keeble, formerly of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment.

Asked about the occasion, the Falklands hero said: "For me the principal thing is just meeting all these wonderful people and just seeing freedom at work. It makes it all worthwhile - that's what we were fighting for."

"It is a really happy occasion but there is a sadness."

Pointing to veterans of the conflict standing around the Liberation Monument, he said: "What you see around you now are all the fit and healthy. Back home are many physically and mentally broken individuals who are not here, who are either ill or alone in hospitals or in night shelters.

"They are the people who need to be remembered. We are the lucky ones here. My worry, 25 years on, is that there is a cost - a hidden cost."