A flypast by a Lancaster and Spitfire was greeted with applause and waves as thousands of people marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Capel-le-Ferne on Sunday.

Among those present were members of The Few - the Battle of Britain pilots - and Prince Michael of Kent, patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

After lunching with the veterans and other guests, the Prince went on a walkabout around the site, which houses the Battle of Britain National Memorial.

He reviewed the 60-odd standards paraded by ex-service and youth organisations before taking the salute at a marchpast.

Prince Michael then unveiled a plinth on which is inscribed a poem written by one of the The Few, Flt Lt William Walker, of 616 Squadron Spitfires.

The plinth is next to the Christopher Foxley-Norris memorial wall on which is inscribed the names of around 3,000 aircrew who flew in operational units from July 10 to October 31, 1940.

Paying tribute to the pilots, the Prince said: "In the summer of 1940 the whole population of Great Britain and Europe was in your hands. We salute you."

He desribed the poem as a "poignant reminder of how much we owe to The Few."

Mr Walker was there to read out his poem.

Another of The Few, Spitfire pilot Flt Lt Richard Jones, 91, said their life expectancy had been seven to eight days.

“We learnt not to show too much fear," he said. "There was only one thing to do – we had to beat the Germans."

The Prince and others laid wreaths on the national memorial and flowers and other tributes were left at the wall.

Among the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust supporters present were actor Neil Pearson and Sir Michael Parkinson.

The trust has recently launched a £650,000 appeal for a learning centre at Capel-le-Ferne.