The first birthday to be celebrated since the visit to Malta by Her Majesty, was also Queen Elizabeth's 80th. The President, the Prime Minister and various Ministers, members of the country's highest institutions and the members of the opposition party were in attendance, as well as numerous people who share links with Britain and Malta.

H.E. the British High Commissioner, Nick Archer, made a speech in Maltese, saying that the friendship between the two countries has a rich history but also an exciting future in the European Union.

In his speech, President Fenech Adami described how Her Majesty had told him during her visit last year, that the warm welcome she received made her feel like she had never been away from Malta. This was Her Majesty's third visit as Queen, after she had lived here as a Princess between 1949 and 1951.