The Queen and the Prime Minister who sent troops 8,000 miles to liberate the Falkland Islands from Argentine invaders 25 years ago came together yesterday to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in the South Atlantic conflict.

Baroness Thatcher and the Queen, both aged 81 and each wearing similar tones of lilac with matching hats, attended a service with veterans of the 1982 conflict at the Falklands Memorial Chapel in Pangbourne, Berkshire.

Memories of the conflict that lasted 74 days and led to the surrender of the Argentine troops on June 14, 25 years ago, were also recalled at a service and parade in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands.

In a message broadcast to the islanders by Alan Huckle, the Falklands Governor, the Queen said: “Twenty-five years ago the men and women of the task force made a stand for democracy and freedom.

“Since then, you have shown that their sacrifice was not in vain by your continued loyalty and determination to safeguard and develop your way of life.”

Her words will have brought no comfort to Argentines, who still have ambitions to regain sovereignty of the Falklands — which they call the Malvinas — although by diplomatic rather than military means.

The Queen, however, made clear the British Government’s position.

“This week offers you an opportunity to look back with pride on your achievements and to look forward to a prosperous future, living in freedom and governed by those whom you have chosen,” she said.

At the service in Pangbourne, which was also attended by Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, Rear-Admiral Jeremy Sanders, who served in the conflict, read out the traditional remembrance message: “They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.”

A total of 255 British servicemen and three Falkland Islanders were killed, and 649 Argentines lost their lives, half of them after the battle cruiser General Belgrano was sunk by a torpedo fired by the Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror.

Sara Jones, widow of Lieutenant-Colonel “H” Jones, who was killed at Goose Green and awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, read a lesson.

Two buglers from the band of the Royal Marines sounded the Last Post, and Lance Sergeant Ross McCrindle, a Scots Guards piper, marched slowly round, playing a bagpipe lament.

Mark Coreth, 48, a troop leader with 4 Troop, B Squadron The Blues and Royals during the conflict, and now a sculptor who has recently completed a memorial work featuring three flying albatrosses, said after the service: “There is sadness but huge feelings of pride. It was a campaign we all were prepared to give our lives for.”

His memorial stands outside the chapel at Pangbourne. The Queen spoke to him.

As the Queen arrived for the service, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Steve Kettless, 50, who fought in the battle of Goose Green with the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, said: “I’m filled with sadness for the boys who never came home.

“That’s the main emotion in remembering what happened 25 years ago for me.”

After the service the Queen placed the final stone on a memorial cairn behind the chapel.

It is made up of 255 stones — representing the members of the Armed Forces who died.

Falkland Islanders were joined at their own service of remembrance by the man who was serving as Governor at the time of the Argentine invasion.

Sir Rex Hunt, who stood up to the Argentines but was finally forced to leave the islands as the enemy troops occupied Stanley, attended the service at the cathedral in the capital. The Royal Family was represented by the Earl of Wessex.

The Rev David Norfield, chaplain to British Forces in the South Atlantic — there are still 1,200 servicemen and women based in the Falklands — told the congregation that they were there to give thanks for the liberation of the islands, and the “courage, deter

In a reference to the continuing diplomatic dispute over sovereignty of the Falklands, he said: “We pray for those who live in the Falkland Islands and for peace and reconciliation in the South Atlantic.”

Others who attended the service included Lord Parkinson, who was in Margaret Thatcher’s war Cabinet during the 1982 conflict, and Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces Minister.

After the national anthem, the congregation filed out for the main commemorative event, a parade in which British servicemen and veterans marched through Stanley to cannon salutes and music from a British Royal Marines band.

“Thanks for freeing us in 1982,” read signs waved by many of the 3,000 inhabitants of the islands.

How the conflict unfolded

April 2, 1982 Argentine troops invade the Falklands

April 5 two carriers, HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes, set sail from Portsmouth as lead elements of the Royal Navy Task Force bound for the South Atlantic

April 25 Royal Marines retake South Georgia

May 1 Vulcan bomber, in longest bombing run in history, hits Stanley airfield

May 2 General Belgrano, Argentine cruiser, sunk by Royal Navy submarine.

May 4 HMS Sheffield, destroyer, sunk, 20 killed

May 21 Troops land at San Carlos

May 23 HMS Antelope, frigate, sunk, two dead

May 28 Battles of Darwin and Goose Green Atlantic Ocean

June 8 Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram landing craft attacked at Fitzroy, 52 killed

June 11 Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Mount Harriet – Argentine positions – taken

June 13 Mount William, Wireless Ridge and Mount Tumbledown taken

June 14 Stanley liberated after Argentine surrender

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