Prince Charles to visit Malta for the 75th anniversary of the George Cross

On October 4, the Prince of Wales, who is also the president of the Victoria Cross as well as the George Cross Association will be visiting Malta to mark the 75th anniversary of the George Cross

King George VI awarded Malta with the George Cross on April 15 1942 as a symbol of the bravery, knowledge, heroism and devotion, which the Maltese demonstrated during the siege in the Second World War. The George Cross is still present on the Maltese national flag as a symbol of its peoples’ bravery during the conflict.

On October 5, he will deliver the keynote speech at the ‘Our Ocean conference in St. Julians. Prince Charles, who has been a long-time champion for the health and resilience of the ocean, made his first speech on the environment in December 1968 and has long warned the public of the irreversible effects of climate change.

The Our Ocean conference series was initiated by the US Department of State, spearheaded by former US Secretary of State John Kerry. The first Our Ocean conference was held in Washington D.C in June 2014, then in Chile in 2015 and Washington D.C again in 2016. The European Union will host the fourth Our Ocean conference in Malta on October 5 and 6, 2017. The conference aims to inspire and empower a new generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists and civil society to identify solutions and commit to actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans.

Prince Charles will undertake a series of other engagements, including a visit to St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta to view the restoration work. Built in 1844, at the instigation of Queen Adelaide, the cathedral is an integral part of the Valletta skyline and has recently launched a €3 million restoration campaign. The Duke of Edinburgh is First Friend of the Friends of St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral.