People around the world were shocked to learn of Prince Philip’s passing on Friday 9^th April. The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest-serving consort, a devout husband and father and had a noteworthy military career. Both he and the Queen were no strangers to the Maltese Islands, having visited and lived here, too.

A letter that the Duke once wrote to Malta has surfaced which speaks of the islands’ and the population’s contribution during the horrid times of World War II in which Prince Philip, too, served. Discover Malta shared the “letter from Prince Philip in the GCIA newsletter no. 41 of spring 2000 about Malta and the Maltese.” The GCIA is the George Cross Island Association.

“The Siege of Malta during the Second World War has gone down in the annals of military history,” he shared, noting that “the outcome would have been very different but for the stoic endurance and loyal support of the people of Malta.”

“The whole world has changed since the end of the war, but I am quite sure that Malta’s contribution to British efforts to defeat the aggressive intents of Napoleon, Mussolini, and Hitler will never be forgotten.”

“I only had the opportunity of visiting Malta once during the war, and that was for a very short time just before the invasion of Sicily. Later on I had the very great pleasure of following my grandfather and my uncle when I came back to serve with the Navy in 1949. I then discovered for myself why they both had such a great affection for the island and its people.”