Description
Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh have been regular visitors to Malta over the years.
The Royal Visit in 1967, featured in the above archive footage, was regarded as an important moment in the island’s history as it was the first time that an independent Malta had welcomed The Queen.
The royal couple arrived from London on November 14. Flags and banners decorated the streets of Valletta as they made their way down Kingsway to the Palace.
Highlights of the trip included the presentation of new Colours to the 1st Battalion King’s Own Malta Regiment in St George’s Square, seen above.
The Queen also delivered a speech at the State opening of Parliament, toured St John’s Co-Cathedral, visited the Royal University of Malta’s new Tal-Qroqq campus, attended a rally for schoolchildren in Floriana, and laid the foundation stone of Gozo’s new hospital.
Her Majesty later spoke at a state banquet at the Palace in Valletta, telling guests: ‘Things have changed since I was here last. This time it is my particular pleasure to be here as Queen of Malta.’
At the end of the visit on November 17, she wrote to the Governor-General: ‘It has been a moving experience for us to revisit Malta and Gozo. I send my heartfelt good wishes for the happiness and prosperity of all my people in Malta and Gozo.’
