This week, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been in Malta for a special, sentimental royal tour, celebrating the island’s independence and remembering Edward’s beloved parents.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived in Malta on Monday. At San Anton Palace, they were greeted by the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, and her husband, Anthony. The palace was home to Grand Masters of the Order of Malta as early as the seventeenth century. Later used by British monarchs during visits to Malta, the palace has been the official presidential residence since 1974.
Edward and Sophie also met with Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, and his wife, Lydia, at the Auberge de Castille in Valletta. The Edinburghs’ royal visit was timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence. The State of Malta, with Queen Elizabeth II as monarch, was established in September 1964. Ten years later, the nation became a republic with a president as head of state. It remains part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
For the visit, Sophie packed numerous dresses and skirts with classic floral patterns. On Monday, she wore a floral dress from Gabriela Hearst, paired with dark red floral stud earrings and a necklace with a red gemstone pendant, as well as bracelets on both wrists.
On Monday evening, Edward and Sophie headed to the residence of the British High Commissioner, where they were present for a reception attended by local dignitaries and Commonwealth Points of Light Award Winners and Young Leaders.
Per UFO No More, Sophie wore an Erdem dress for the reception, paired with gold hoop earrings from Giulia Barela.
The earrings are the Poetica Small Hoop Earrings from the brand. Founded in Rome by Giulia Barela, who had a previous career in international relations, the brand emphasizes that it’s never too late to change course and pursue your dreams.
The company offers this description of Sophie’s earrings: “These delicate earrings evoke the fleeting beauty of a flower, capturing its essence in a whisper of gold and a touch of ethereal grace. The Poetica Hoop Small earrings are a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, a jewel that resembles a delicate natural element that comes to life on your body.” The gold-plated bronze earrings retail on their website for $190.
On Tuesday, the tour continued with a stop at the Grand Harbour in Valletta. There, Edward and Sophie dropped commemorative wreaths into the sea. The residents of the island displayed remarkable heroism during World War II, during which they were besieged by Italy and Germany. At the time, Malta was still a British colony.
In recognition of the heroic efforts of the Maltese people, Edward’s grandfather, King George VI, awarded the George Cross to the people of Malta in 1942. In a handwritten letter, he wrote, “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.” The Maltese people so treasured the award that they incorporated the George Cross into their flag, and it remains part of the design of the flag of Malta today.
Tuesday’s engagements also included the opening of the new Submariners’ Walkway in Valletta, as well as a visit to the Maritime Museum in Birgu. Sophie again opted for florals, pairing a flowered skirt with a crisp white blouse and comfortable espadrilles.
She also repeated jewelry pieces from the previous day, wearing the golden Giulia Barela hoop earrings and her necklace with the red gemstone pendant.
On Wednesday, the Edinburghs made a very special visit, touring the Villa Guardamangia in Pietà. The eighteenth-century property served as the residence for Edward’s parents, Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth, when he was stationed in Malta between 1949 and 1951. After it fell into disrepair, the building was acquired by the Maltese government in 2019, and Heritage Malta is currently in the process of renovating the villa. The current Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh stopped by to see the progress on the beloved home of their predecessors.
Malta remained a particularly special place for Elizabeth and Philip throughout their lives. In November 2007, they even celebrated their 60th anniversary there. Here’s a photograph of the previous Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in the garden of the villa in 1949.
For Wednesday’s engagements, Sophie again opted for a white blouse paired with a floral skirt. This time she also wore diamond floral stud earrings, as well as the necklace with the red gemstone pendant.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.