The Malta Independent 19 February 2025, Wednesday
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British royal family discussing how it can help ‘maximise’ Villa Guardamangia’s potential - Minister

Albert Galea Thursday, 31 October 2024, 15:35 Last update: about 5 months ago

The British royal family is discussing how it can help the Maltese government “maximise” Villa Guardamangia’s potential, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said on Thursday, as he also announced that the first tenders for the house are set to be issued.

The minister was speaking at a press conference at Villa Guardamangia itself in Pieta.

Villa Guardamangia is the only house outside of the United Kingdom which British monarchs Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ever called their permanent residence, as they resided there between 1949 and 1951 – two years after their marriage and before Elizabeth II was crowned as Queen.

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It was acquired by Heritage Malta some years back, and the government recently announced that it had acquired 10.2 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund for its restoration.

Bonnici noted that in her subsequent visits to Malta, the Queen had also recalled the island with a sense of nostalgia, and said that Prince Edward – who visited the island recently to mark Malta’s 60th year since Independence – had been quite moved when he visited the house.

He said on Thursday that Malta securing European funding means that the first tenders may be issued in order for restoration work to begin.  Restoration work is expected to take between four and six years.

“Once finished, it will be for the people to enjoy,” Bonnici said.

It may also include some contributions from the Royal Family itself.  Bonnici told journalists that when Prince Edward visited the house he was informed that the current reigning monarch King Charles has a lot of interest in the house as well.

“The King is in talks with his brother Prince Edward and with the Royal Family to see how we can pull one rope so the enormous value in this house can be maximised,” the minister said.

Speaking more generally, Bonnici said that 2025 will see work on 40 different restoration projects, as the government aims to continue to safeguard Malta’s heritage “and give quality to the people.”

The Main Guard building in St George’s Square in Valletta is currently subject to a 600,000 restoration, while the Jesuit Church in Valletta will also be subject to restoration works costing around 4.5 million, the minister said.

Other projects mentioned were Vendome Tower in Marsaxlokk, the former tram station in Marsa, part of St Catherine’s Church in Zejtun, the Timber Gates in Mdina, the Ghajn tal-Hasselin in Marsaxlokk, and the Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Victories in Birkirkara.

Bonnici also said that work at the Maritime Museum will continue, with completion envisaged for 2027, and that Villa Portelli in Kalkara will be opened to the public in phases following an 800,000 restoration.

He also announced that the first of two tenders for the Culture and Arts Hub in Marsa is set to be issued by Festivals Malta in the coming weeks.  This long-awaited project includes facilities for carnival enthusiasts and the government has secured 15 million in EU funding for this.

Bonnici also said that a Sculpture Garden will be built behind the recently opened MICAS Galleries in an investment of 600,000 and also announced that the Public Broadcasting Service’s Malex House will see work in order for an underground car park and new state-of-the-art studios be built.

He also said that the Ministry will be assisting Maltese artists to participate in the upcoming Biennale in Gwangju in South Korea.

“Arts and culture are the soul of a people. A quality country is not just discerned from its economic success but also from how much it protects its arts and culture,” Bonnici said.

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