Valletta crowds go crazy for Prince William

Large crowds gathered in Valletta to catch a glimpse of Prince William, the guest of honour for Malta’s 50th anniversary of independence. 
The prince was a late stand-in for his wife Kate who had to withdraw because of severe morning sickness – she is pregnant with their second child. The trip would have been the Duchess’ first official solo overseas visit in the name of Queen Elizabeth since she became the Duchess of Cambridge back in 2011. 

The Duke, second in line to the throne, started his 24-hour trip to Malta by calling on President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca at San Anton Palace, where he planted a tree. 

He then stopped at Castille to meet Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle and twin daughters Etoile and Soleil. One of the girls presented him with a teddy bear as a present for his son Prince George.

It was only a quick stop though, and the Prince was soon whisked off to St George’s Square to watch an In Guardia historical re-enactment. 
Afterwards, he walked to the National Library, shaking people’s hands along the way. In the library, the Prince inspected historic documents, including letters from his ancestors, King Henry VIII and George II, as well as the original citation awarding the George Cross to Malta for bravery in World War II.

“I’m very interested in Malta’s history,” Prince William had told Coleiro Preca. “I was asking my grandmother about her time in Malta just a week ago.”

Queen Elizabeth lived in Gwardamangia for periods between 1949 and 1951 while her husband Prince Philip was stationed on the island as a Royal Navy officer. 

Prince William emerged from the library to a roar from the crowd, which stood behind two opposite barriers to catch sight of the prince. A lucky few people who managed to barge their ways to the front got more than they had expected when the Prince spoke to them, shook their hands and posed for pictures with them. A young girl also got to place a bracelet around the Prince’s wrist.  

The Prince then visited the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta to unveil a commemorative plaque next to the one that the Queen unveiled when she visited with Prince Philip for their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007. The Prince also watched a spectacle over Grand Harbour, which included an aeronautical display, fireworks and a low-level flypast by aircraft of the Armed Forces of Malta. 

Prince William will attend an Independence Day service and look at Caravaggio paintings at St John’s Co-Cathedral today. He will then visit Access Centre and watch a folklore show in Birgu, visit St Lawrence Church, and go on a boat tour of Grand Harbour. His visit to Malta will come to an end with a Garden Party at the British High Commissioner’s residence.