The British High Commission and the Maltese government have just announced that Malta will be receiving a royal visit come October – from Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The royal couple will be on the island between the 7th and 10th October, to mark the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence from the United Kingdom, which took place on 21 September 1964.

The title Duke of Edinburgh is currently held by Prince Edward, the youngest sibling of King Charles III, who inherited the title from their father the late Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Edward’s wife, titled Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was born with the name Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, and married Prince Edward in 1999.

The British Royal Family has strong ties with Malta, with the late Queen Elizabeth II having shown a particular affinity for the island. As a Royal Navy officer, her husband Prince Philip was stationed in Malta, which led to Queen Elizabeth II, back then Princess Elizabeth and Duchess of Edinburgh, residing at Villa Guardamangia in Pietà between 1949 and 1951. The royal couple then returned to Malta in 2007 to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

Do you remember any royal visits from the past?