The Malta Independent 19 April 2024, Friday
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Queen plans historic family trip to Malta with her three heirs in November 2015

Malta Independent Monday, 22 September 2014, 08:45 Last update: about 11 years ago

The Queen is planning to make a major foreign visit to Malta next year - and bring her three heirs, including toddler Prince George, with her, The Daily Mail reported today.

The historic family trip is being mooted for next November when the sovereign, who will be 89, attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) for the first time since 2011.

It would be the first time a monarch and her three heirs - in this case Charles, William and George - have travelled abroad together

Last year Prince Charles stepped in to represent his mother at the biannual CHOGM gathering in Sri Lanka after the Queen decided to scale back on long-haul travel given her age.

The success of the trip led to expectations that Charles, who is the longest serving heir apparent in British history, would represent the Queen more regularly at such large-scale events.

But aides have apparently convinced the Queen that the three-hour journey by air to Malta is 'just like an internal flight'.

And the monarch herself has something of a soft spot for the Mediterranean Island where she and Prince Philip lived for several months during the early days of their marriage. 

Speaking during a whirlwind trip to the island by Prince William yesterday, Malta's Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat said the Queen was 'very keen' to make it happen.

 

Dr Muscat said: 'The invite is out for Her Majesty to attend and we are waiting for her to reply.

'I believe Her Majesty will attend, we are awaiting confirmation.'

He also revealed: 'I spoke to her in Glasgow at the opening of the Commonwealth Games and she said she was looking forward to coming over.

'I believe there may be more than one member of the family coming- we'd like to have all the family here.'

His wife Michelle added: 'They are more than welcome. It's a very nice island and very safe.' William also indicated to Malta's president that he would love to bring George and his new brother or sister over.

 

Malta's President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said: 'Prince Wiliiam said he was looking forward to returning to Malta and I told his royal highness that we look forward to welcoming all his family including baby George.' 

She formally invited the whole Cambridge family at a spectacular fireworks show to celebrate Malta's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain on Saturday.

She said: 'Permit me to take this opportunity to invite and host all the family of Your Royal Highness, including Baby George, in the near future.' 

Pointing to that address, Malta's high commissioner to London, Norman Hamilton, said they hoped the Queen and Prince Philip would come to CHOGM and that the invitation had been made for Prince Charles and the Cambridges to join her. 

'I think her advisers have more or less confirmed to her that it is almost like an internal flight,' he said.

He added: 'They will be well taken care of. It's a special place for her -- she has fond memories of being here. 'And you can see the love and affection for William and the family. It depends if the Royal family wants to extend it.'

 
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