This newsroom will continue to update you with Prince William’s visit and what is happening in Valletta and around the Grand Harbour area.

 

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has arrived in Malta, to represent Britain as Malta celebrates the 50th anniversary of Independence.

 

The Prince's visit to Malta was only confirmed a few days ago; his wife Catherine, who is pregnant with their second child, was due to attend, but had to cancel due to severe morning sickness. He landed at the Malta International Airport at around 3pm.

He immediately travelled to the San Anton Palace to call on President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. A small crowd of people has gathered outside the palace well in advance, in the hope of getting a glimpse of the Prince. The Prince planted a tree in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Malta being independent.

The Prince's other commitments for the day are all in Valletta. His visit to the President was followed by a call on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the Auberge de Castille, where he was welcomed by Dr Muscat, his wife and their two daughters.

 

Only a small group of people opted to wait outside Castille, but a substantially larger number, with many tourists in their midst, gathered at St George's Square where an In Guardia Parade, a re-enactment showing military drills of the Knights of St John, has been held. The Prime Minister has accompanied the Prince at the square, along with Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli.

The Prince did not proceed down Republic Street, as he is not a head of state; although he is set to become one in the future. Instead, he walked through St Paul's Street on his way to the Palace.

As he arrived at the square, the Prince was greeted by the crowd, with many of those present taking out their mobile phone to take a photograph of the occasion.

Before the parade began, Dr Muscat showed the Prince the plaque commemorating King George VI's decision to award the George Cross to Malta.

The parade involved knights on horseback, and formations of pikemen and musketmen who engaged in a mock attack. As the event neared its end, two mortars placed on either side of the tent the Prince was sitting in were fired, following by the firing of a cannon.

The persons playing the role of the Grandmaster and of the Archbishop then walked to the tent, where they were greeted by the Prince.

The Prince then proceeded to the National Library, where he was shown documents signed by his ancestors regarding Malta, including the award of the George Cross by King George VI and the documents which his grandfather, Prince Philip presented to Prime Minister Gorg Borg Olivier just a few hours after Independence in 1964. In the library he met Presidents Emeritus Dr. Ugo Misfud Bonnici, Dr. George Abela and their spouses. The Prince was accompanied by Minister of Justice and Culture Owen Bonnici