Malta gifts Princess Charlotte traditional lace blanket

Almost a month after Buckingham Palace’s youngest member was christened amid much fanfare in England, the undoubted shower of gifts to Princess Charlotte has not stopped, as now, thanks to the generosity of the Maltese public, the young princess can safely be tucked into bed with a traditional Maltese laced blanket. 

The Maltese laced summer blanket was presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle on behalf of the government and the people of Malta to mark the occasion of Princess Charlotte's christening. 

The lace design features old traditional patterns as well as an eight-pointed Maltese Cross in the centre, and was worked in fine silk ordered from UK manufacturers.

Mrs Muscat commissioned the lace work for Princess Charlotte’s summer blanket to a qualified lace teacher Mrs Marian Buttigieg, who adapted the design suggested for the border and centre piece from old traditional patterns.

The centre piece is worked using the English stitch as the basic ground with sprays of small flowers and leaves scattered on it. The work was carried out by lacemakers Mrs Mary Sultana and Mrs Victoria Debrincat who worked on the centre piece and border respectively.

The blanket is monogrammed with the Princess Charlotte's initials C. E. D. - Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Lace is a decorative textile which was mainly used to embellish the elaborate costumes of the aristocrats.

Malta was highly renowned for its laces especially by the British. Although it was called Maltese lace it was mainly worked in Gozo, where the craft is still worked in the traditional way.