The Queen’s state visit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting are over. The heads of state have left, and the lives of all of us can get back to normal, but it really was worth the hassle.

We can rest assured that, after these two important occasions, our standing in the eyes of the world has improved dramatically. The events were well coordinated, security was optimum and, to put matters simply, we were great hosts.

On the business side, the CHOGM itself was a great success and insiders have revealed how Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon heaped praise on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for his steering of the retreat meeting and making sure that progress was made.

This is certainly a feather in the PM’s cap – but it should not be forgotten that CHOGM was only ever going to be as successful as the people of Malta would allow it to be. The general public passed the test with flying colours. People’s lives were not as disrupted as many thought they would be, but they just got on with it and allowed the summit to proceed without hindrance.

CHOGM, of course, coincided with the state visit of the Queen – and what a visit it was! Somehow, despite being a pessimistic and moody people, we managed to put on the warmest displays of welcome – a warmth that belied our sulky nature. And what a good job we made of it.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were at times overwhelmed by the reception they received. Both were seen to be smiling constantly and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere generated by the people. The official welcome in Valletta was a lovely occasion – many people turned out to see the Queen and welcome her back to Malta. It is very clear that there is a mutual affinity between the Maltese people and the British monarch.

But the most memorable moment was the Queen’s visit to the Cottonera Sports Complex on Friday where she met 2,500 children. They were so well-behaved and the roof literally came down when the Queen walked in – and Her Majesty thoroughly enjoyed it.

British PM Tony Blair was also in Malta – the first British PM to visit us in 60 years – and, again, he seemed to like it here. He enjoyed his visit to Castille and had fruitful talks with PM Gonzi.

All this proved that Malta is not as much of a backwater as we sometimes portray it to be. Yes, times can be hard on occasion – but we have so much to be thankful for. People from all over the world have spent a few days in our country and they have been impressed by our professionalism.

The more time that passes, the more we realise how capable a people we actually are. We used to cringe at the thought of organising an international event – and yet, look how well we fared. We have received plaudits from all corners of the globe for the way we managed the whole event in spite of our limited resources.

Of course, there were some hiccups along the way – there always are during such monumental gatherings – but by and large it has been a hugely successful week for Malta. We need not fear holding the EU presidency when the time comes, or for that matter, hosting another event such as this one.

Perhaps one issue that deserves special praise is that of security. It is understood that the safety of our guests is vital during such visits – but this was handled in a professional manner. Security was, as it should be, tight, but it was not over the top. This must not be mistaken for apathy. The security – though mostly invisible – was there and ready for action.

The people of Malta can be proud. This tiny island that we so often criticise has managed to put on a global event. CHOGM might not be the G8 – but it was still a job very well done.