Royal Visit Celebrates Malta’s Historic Legacy
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, accompanied by the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, visited a number of historical locations in Malta.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are in our country as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence from British rule in 1964.
At the Maritime Museum in Birgu, which has undergone extensive restoration, cleaning, demolition, reconstruction and rehabilitation, the Duke and Duchess admired the beauty of this palace, housed in the former Royal Naval Bakery, built in the 1840s as the primary bakery for the Mediterranean Fleet.
At MUŻA, the National Community Art Museum of Malta in Valletta, the royal couple viewed part of the National Collection of Malta, which includes over 15,000 works of art and artefacts.
At Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, the Duke and Duchess visited the National War Museum. This museum features notable artefacts awarded to Malta and the Maltese for gallantry, including the George Cross.
The royal couple also inaugurated the Submarine Passage. This was created by Heritage Malta to commemorate the submariners based in or connected to Malta who were lost during the Second World War.
The royal couple also visited Villa Guardamangia. This visit held emotional and personal significance for the Duke and Duchess as this was the residence of Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen of the United Kingdom, between 1949 and 1951. Prince Edward is the brother of King Charles III and the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Another visit was made to the National Library, located in the heart of Valletta, where the bust of Queen Victoria, an ancestor of Prince Edward, stands in front. The National Library is one of the key treasures of the Maltese Islands, preserving the nation’s memory with collections that span from medieval times to the digital era.
Minister Owen Bonnici expressed his appreciation for the royal couple’s visit to our country and their interest in Malta’s national heritage.
Minister Bonnici stated that the relationship between Malta and the United Kingdom has always been close and special and has continued to strengthen over the years. He concluded by saying that Malta’s independence did not signify the end of friendship between the two countries but rather enhanced both states’ appreciation for each other’s sovereignty and the important role both countries play in Europe and the Mediterranean.