But the UK Ministry of Defence says the 29-year-old's deployment to the disputed archipelago is a routine part of his work as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.

The deployment comes just two months ahead of the 30th anniversary of the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over the British-ruled islands.

A war of words between the two governments has escalated in recent months, with Argentine president Cristina Fernandez describing Britain as a "crass colonial power in decline".

Argentina's foreign ministry said Prince William, the second in line to the throne, was arriving in the "uniform of a conquistador (conqueror)".

London, which rejects Buenos Aires's claim over the craggy windswept islands, is sending one of its most sophisticated warships to the Falklands, which are known as Las Malvinas in Spanish.

The defence ministry said it was routine for Prince William to spend time in the Falklands at this stage in his career.

The prince, known as Flight Lieutenant Wales in the RAF, graduated as a search-and-rescue pilot in September 2010, having started his training in Anglesey, in Wales.

"[William] has arrived in the Falkland Islands on a routine operational deployment and will shortly take up SAR (search and rescue) duties post a period of briefings and a familiarisation flight," the ministry said in a brief statement.

Prince William will not carry out any royal duties during his six weeks on the islands, it added.

Britain has controlled the islands, about 480 kilometres off the southern Argentine coast, since 1833.

In 1982, Britain sent a naval force and thousands of troops to reclaim the islands after Argentine forces sent by the country's then-military junta occupied them.

About 650 Argentine and 255 British troops died in the 10-week conflict.

Reuters/ABC