Brown at N Ireland veterans service

The Prince of Wales, who later hosted a reception for the veterans, the Duchess of Cornwall and Conservative leader David Cameron were also among the guests at the service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Servicemen stood guard outside as dignitaries filtered into the cathedral.

Lady Thatcher, whose entire prime ministerial career was played out against the backdrop of "the Troubles", was dressed in sombre tones.

The Duchess, wearing turquoise, smiled to photographers.

Dignitaries including Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and former Prime Minister Tony Blair also attended the service.

The deployment, known as Operation Banner, was the Army's longest continuous campaign and saw more than 300,000 military personnel serve in Northern Ireland.

Troops were first sent in during 1969 as violent unrest escalated on the streets, and over the following decades 763 members of the armed forces were killed by paramilitaries.

Operation Banner formally ended last year at midnight on July 31 and at the time, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said: "The impact of the commitment since 1969 has been considerable on both the military themselves and on the MoD civilians supporting them.

"They and the community at large have suffered both death and injury. We should take this opportunity to remember the commitment, bravery and sacrifice of all those who have served over so many years in helping deliver the current, more settled and more optimistic circumstances."