The ceremony followed a Pontifical Mass at St John’s co-Cathedral attended by the President, the Prime Minister, various ministers and members of parliament and other Maltese dignitaries. Princess Anne was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Malta, Vincent Fean.

In his sermon, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca said that the celebration of Independence was a good opportunity for the Maltese people to thank God and their ancestors for the accomplishments this country has made over the years. Malta has gone through tough times in the past, he said, that had been necessary for the country to reach where it is now.

He said that these sacrifices had led to Malta’s EU membership in May, with the rights and responsibilities this brings with it. Mgr Merchieca said that Malta now had a duty to participate in the EU’s structures and to foster a rediscovery of Europe’s Catholic roots.

“I believe that the Maltese Catholic politician, both locally and beyond our shores, should be at the forefront in promoting messages that have their roots in the Church’s social teachings.” he said. Mgr Merchieca mentioned a few of what he described as the key values of the church’s social teachings. Respect towards life, he said, is a fundamental value, adding that catholics consider human life sacred, from birth up to natural death.

The common good is another integral part of the church’s teachings, he said – a value that should be kept in mind, especially in the light of the changes the world is experiencing through globalisation. The archbishop warned that the concept of family, another pillar of catholic values, is being undermined. He said that we are going through a time where some people are trying to dismantle the concept of family based on a marriage between a man and a woman lasting until death.

Another two points he mentioned were the need to safeguard the environment and social responsibility. On the subject of protecting the environment, Mgr Mercieca said that that the church supported all initiatives aimed at this goal, adding that everyone had a responsibility to safeguard nature.

As far as people’s responsibilities towards each other are concerned, he said: “We often talk, as should be the case, of the duty we have to speak and act in ways that reflect honesty, but reality is not always as rosy.”

In conclusion, the archbishop said that we need to display Catholic courage which, he said, is indispensable in order to be able to act in ways that are loyal to the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.

After Mass, at around 11am, the Princess and the Prime Minister walked along Republic Street to the presidential palace, before leaving for the wreath-laying ceremony at noon. Outside the church, Princess Anne found a flock of onlookers, armed with cameras and waving in an attempt to get her attention. A crowd followed the Princess on her way to the palace as bodyguards made space for her to pass through. Later in the evening, she attended the Independence Day concert at the presidential palace in Valletta.

Princess Anne is expected to leave Malta this evening after visiting Appogg’s Centru Access at Vittoriosa and the Cottonera Sports Complex in the morning.

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. She was born at Clarence House in London, on 15 August 1950, when her mother was Princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne. She was baptised Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Buckingham Palace on 21 October 1950.

She received the title Princess Royal from the Queen in June 1987 and is the seventh holder of the title.

In 1994, the Queen appointed the Princess a Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and in 2000, to mark her 50th birthday, the Princess Royal was appointed to the Order of the Thistle, in recognition of her work for charities.