MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' veterans remembrance march in central London

A commemorative event in central London is scheduled for this Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands from Argentine forces, following the 1982 South Atlantic conflict.

The ceremony is due to take place at Horse Guards Parade while war veterans and Islanders will share memories of the war in a TV link-up. The Duke of York, who was a Royal Navy pilot during the conflict, will read an extract from a poem by Rudyard Kipling. Afterwards, veterans will march up the Mall to Buckingham Palace and aircraft will take part in a fly-past. All the aircraft taking part saw active service in the conflict. Other guests at Horse Guards Parade will include Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Chancellor Gordon Brown, Defence Secretary Des Browne and Baroness Thatcher, who was prime minister at the time of the conflict. The massed bands of the RAF and the Welsh and Scots Guards will lead thousands of veterans and serving soldiers into the parade ground. At the same time as the commemoration at Horse Guards Parade, Falkland Islanders from Stanley will be joined by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram and Prince Edward. A live TV link-up will unite the two with hymns sung and readings made. The service will end with the Last Post followed by a two-minute silence. "The event will be very emotive because of all those who died in the events of 1982, but at the same time I feel a great pride for what we have achieved, so many things such as making the Islands economically viable and looking ahead to a very positive future", Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands government representative in London was quoted by the press in London. Sunday's "Remembrance Day" parade marks the end of four days of official commemorations in Britain and the Falklands. The war ended on 14 June 1982, after the British Overseas Territory was invaded by Argentina April 2. Some 255 British servicemen, more than 650 Argentines and three Islanders were killed in the 74-day conflict. Commemorations took place last week to mark the day the Falklands were liberated. The Queen, Mr Blair and Baroness Thatcher joined veterans for a remembrance service in the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel in Berkshire. In the Falklands, Prince Edward and Minister Ingram attended a service in Stanley.