President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will not be attending the funeral of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on Friday.

A spokesperson for the President who spoke with The Malta Independent said that in a message received via a third party, Coleiro Preca was informed that her presence was 'not desired' by the family..

“The Office of the President can confirm that Her Excellency expressed her wish to attend Mrs Daphne Caruana Galizia's funeral, however, the family, through a third party, affirmed that the presence of Her Excellency was not desired.”

The Prime Minister will also not be attending. A spokesman for the PM told The Malta Independent that "The family has made it widely known that it does not wish the state authorities to attend."

The funeral which will take place at the Dome in Mosta on Friday, will be attended by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani. The family have asked the media not to broadcast or cover the funeral.

Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb on Monday 16 October.