Prince William Deployed to the Falklands: 5 Things to Know

Prince William will be deployed to the Falkland Islands for the next six weeks to serve as a pilot for the Royal Air Force's search and rescue helicopters.

Here are some things to know about the trip:

Duties

Prince William will complete a routine deployment for his training program in the RAF. This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales' training and career progression as a search and rescue pilot within the RAF, the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement. According to the BBC, Prince William has been promoted to take full charge of the helicopter, since his last deployment when he served as a co-pilot in Anglesey, Wales.

Family History

Prince William is not the first of the royal family to be deployed to the islands. His uncle Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, served during the 1982 war with Argentina in a 10-week posting as a Sea King helicopter pilot. The 30th anniversary of the Falklands War will be commemorated this year.

Tension with Argentina

The 1982 Falklands War was a conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, called the Malvinas in Argentina, which are located in the South Atlantic east of Argentina. After Argentine forces invaded the Islands on April 2, 1982, the United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dispatched a task force to recapture the territory. The 74-day conflict ended in Argentine surrender, and the islands were returned to British control, but Argentina still claims them.

Potential for More Upset in Argentina

Although the purpose of Prince William's deployment is solely for routine training in the Royal Air Force, it is expected that his visit will stir further upset in Argentina. Last summer, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner slammed Prime Minister David Cameron after he said the islands should remain a British territory if that was what the inhabitants wanted. Kirchner referred to the statement as, mediocrity bordering on stupidity. In December, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, announced that they would ban ships sailing under the Falkland Islands flag from docking at their ports.

In a statement about Prince William's upcoming visit, the Argentine Foreign Ministry expressed its regret that an heir to the throne would be arriving wearing the uniform of a conqueror.

Governments should avoid the temptation of falling into a discourse ... that aims to distract public attention from belt-tightening economic policies, the ministry said in a statement, according to the Daily Mail.

Kate will Stay at Home

Kate Middleton will not be accompanying her husband during his deployment. She will be staying at Kensington Palace and carry out work on her recently selected charities.

The Duchess of Cambridge has selected a number of charities that deal with a range of issues from drug addiction to helping young people. She has also become a royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, Action on Addiction, the National Portrait Gallery and the Art Room.

The duchess has chosen to support organizations that complement the charitable work already undertaken by her husband, the palace said in a statement.