Ahead of Meghan Markle’s first royal job without husband Prince Harry tomorrow – a day of engagements in Cheshire alongside the Queen herself – speculation about how the two will fare is bound to be rife. It’s a great opportunity for some bonding time between the new royal and the head of the monarchy, but what will they talk about? Our guess? Something they have very much in common: their love for Malta!

While the Queen’s affinity for the island has been well documented, after spending some of the happiest years of her life living here as a newlywed, Meghan’s very roots are tied to this Mediterranean island. Her great-great grandmother Mary Bird was actually born here before emigrating to the US, and back in 2015, Meghan paid her first visit to Malta to learn more about her ancestors.

“The trip was mostly about trying to understand where I come from, my identity. There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle,” she had said in an interview at the time.

Her time here was spent sampling local cuisine including pastizzi and local wines, as well as taking in the culture at some of the island’s historical landmarks, including St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Such experiences are bound to appeal to the Queen, who as a princess, was said to have “really loved Malta because she was able to lead a normal life, wander through the town and do some shopping… it was the only place that she was able to live the life of a naval officer's wife, just like all the other wives.”

And as Meghan adjusts to her new role as a royal, it’s sure to bring back some memories for the Queen too, who had to leave her quiet life in Malta behind after her father fell ill, going on to step up to the crown far sooner than expected.

With all this in common, the two are bound to have lots to talk about, and who knows, perhaps we’ll be seeing them on their beloved Malta in the future – one can certainly hope!