It is a well-known fact that Queen Elizabeth has a special place in her heart for the Maltese Islands – the only other place she’s called home during her 95 years on this earth. And there’s something special about travelling back in time to when royalty visited our islands.

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The Queen and her late husband Prince Philip, who passed away on 9^th April 2021 aged 99, frequently visited the islands. But this particular photo captures a raw moment at one of Malta’s most prestigious theatres.

During their 1967 visit to Malta (the first one following Malta’s Independence in 1964), the Queen and the then-Duke of Edinburgh are featured in the Manoel Theatre’s royal box. The Queen is seen looking at the stage, while Prince Philip can be seen grinning.

There are other photographs of their 1967 trip, including this coloured photo of Her Majesty and Philip arriving at theatre for the performance.