Dozens of military aircraft flew over Buckingham Palace on Sunday as Britain marked the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.

In a photo taken from the roof of Buckingham Palace, a parade of veterans makes its way down The Mall in London during events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War on Sunday.
(Stefan Rousseau/Associated Press)

Britain's Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher joined military leaders and thousands of veterans for the ceremony commemorating the end of the 1982 conflict between Britain and Argentina over the south Atlantic islands.

Some 10,000 veterans and their families attended a solemn service on Horse Guards Parade — traditional home of British military pomp and ceremony — that included hymns, a two-minute silence and the sounding of the Last Post.

During the ceremony, footage of the conflict was broadcast on big screens and veterans recounted their experiences from a stage in the shape of the Falklands.

Among the veterans was Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, who flew Royal Navy helicopters during the conflict.

After the service, veterans and current members of units that served in the conflict marched down the Mall, the broad boulevard running up to Buckingham Palace.

Thatcher, who sent British troops to retake the islands after Argentina's April 1982 invasion, joined the other dignitaries to watch the march.

The climax of the commemoration was a flypast by more than 50 aircraft, including Typhoon fighter jets and Sea King helicopters, representing squadrons that flew in 1982. The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatic squadron, trailing red, white and blue plumes of smoke, also took part.

The ceremony coincided with a service 13,000 kilometres away at San Carlos Bay in the Falkland Islands, where Prince Edward, the queen's youngest son, laid a wreath at a memorial to British dead.

The ceremonies capped a week of events marking the anniversary.

A memorial service at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel outside London was held earlier this week, attended by Thatcher, Blair and the Queen.

The conflict, which ended June 14, 1982, cost the lives of 255 British servicemen, more than 600 Argentine troops and three islanders.