Restoration Works Begin At Villa Guardamangia
The rehabilitation, restoration and conservation project concerns the villa where Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip resided for periods between 1949 and 1951.
The Villa Guardamangia project is expected to take around three years to complete, with costs estimated at just over €12 million. Of this, more than €10 million will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund.
To mark the start of this new phase of the project, following a period of planning and preparation, the Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici and the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, visited the site.
They were accompanied on a tour of the villa by senior members of Heritage Malta’s management.
“This is another important step in safeguarding our historical heritage, which also carries international significance due to its link with the British Royal Family,” Minister Owen Bonnici said.
He added that this project is just one of over 40 restoration initiatives of various types, demonstrating the government’s serious commitment to breathing new life into the nation’s history.
Dr Bonnici emphasised that the rehabilitation of Villa Guardamangia is a unique undertaking, made possible through the government’s foresight in purchasing the villa from private ownership, securing the necessary EU funds and now committing firmly to completing the project for the benefit of the Maltese people and the tourists who visit.
Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive, Noel Zammit, stated that the restoration of Villa Guardamangia reflects Heritage Malta’s commitment to accessibility and ensuring that the public feels truly connected to the country’s cultural heritage. He stressed that heritage is not only about museum artefacts or historical documents, but also about the nation’s collective memory and the historic buildings that people still recall as homes of the past. Once restored, Villa Guardamangia, once an address reserved for the privileged few, will become part of the shared patrimony of all.
As part of the initial works, dangerous sections of the façade were dismantled, while other parts of the building were reinforced to halt further deterioration. A detailed architectural survey of the entire property was carried out and tonnes of construction debris and other materials were removed. Stone statues that once adorned the garden, as well as domestic appliances used in the villa during the 1940s and 1950s, were conserved by Heritage Malta after decades of neglect. Decorative wall paintings were uncovered, ready for restoration.
Environmental data, including temperature and humidity levels within the villa, was collected to inform future decisions. Extensive research was also undertaken into the building’s history, its owners and its furnishings over the years. Heritage Malta also gathered first-hand testimony from people who lived in the villa both before and after Princess Elizabeth’s residence, as well as from those who worked there or provided services to the royal couple.
Villa Guardamangia comprises 18 rooms, stables, an underground shelter and a large garden. Restoration will cover both the interior and exterior of the villa, alongside the installation of sustainable environmental systems. The project is expected to be lengthy and complex due to the villa’s deteriorated condition.
Once completed, the experience of Villa Guardamangia will centre on the human aspect and the sense of normality cherished by the royal couple during their time in Malta. The villa will be recreated as it appeared in the 1950s, offering visitors the experience of an authentic historic home from the period. A small exhibition and documentary will further help the public understand Malta’s long-standing ties with the British Royal Family, as well as the colonial context in which the royal couple lived in Malta during the mid-20th century.