Britain's Prince William has begun his duties as a search and rescue pilot in the Falkland Islands, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Saturday, a deployment which has infuriated Argentina.

The 29-year-old, who is second in line to the throne, has been sent to the South Atlantic archipelago as a routine part of his duties as an Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter pilot.

But his six-week stint on the barren islands has enraged Buenos Aires, which claims the Falklands are occupied Argentine territory and has condemned the prince's tour as a "provocation".

William, the eldest son of heir to the throne Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, arrived in the British overseas territory on Thursday.

"Flight Lieutenant Wales has commenced his duties as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Falkland Islands providing SAR (search and rescue) cover for both the civilian and military population," the MoD said in a statement.

The timing of the deployment has added to tensions ahead of the 30th anniversary of the war between Britain and Argentina over the Falklands.

The windswept islands, home to about 3,000 people, have been held by Britain since 1833.

On April 2, 1982, the then-ruling junta in Argentina invaded the Falklands, sparking a 74-day war with Britain which cost the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British troops.