Prince of Wales in Malta today in commemoration of George Cross award anniversary

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat met the Prince of Wales at the Auberge de Castille this afternoon. The Prince of Wales is currently on a two-day visit to mark the 75th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross.

The George Cross was awarded to the people of Malta on April 15 1942, in recognition of the continuing heroism and bravery they showed during the great siege of World War II.

In a message to Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie, governor or Malta, King George VI had said “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta, to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history”.

The Siege of Malta lasted from mid-1940 to the end of 1942. During the period of January 1 to July 24 1942, there was only a single 24-hour period when no bombs were dropped on Malta, with the German bombers following Adolf Hitler’s instructions to “neutralise” the island in preparation for a German invasion. The Luftwaffe bombing continued until October 1942.

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Prince of Wales is today scheduled to visit St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, and attend the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the awarding of the George Cross.

The Prince of Wales will be in Malta till tomorrow, when he will deliver a speech at the “Our Ocean Conference”, an event taking place in Malta, the subject of which is the importance of the seas and oceans for our lives.

The Prince of Wales met Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his children, Soleil and Etoile, at the Auberge de Castille

He is then planned to meet participants of the Prince’s Trust International’s Get into Hospitality and Achieve programmes, along with visiting Nature Trust Malta on Golden Bay beach, and the Ħaġar Qim Temple Complex.