The Love Story of Queen Elizabeth II on Malta – The Happiest Years of the Princess?
Prince Philip was stationed on Malta as an officer in the Royal Navy. Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth and Duchess of Edinburgh, lived between November 1949 and 1951 in Villa Guardamangia in Pietà, Malta. These were idyllic days for the Princess, filled with endless picnics, dances, sunbathing, and water skiing on Malta. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Malta.How Did Queen Elizabeth II Come to Malta?
Between 1949 and 1951, the couple lived near Malta’s capital for two years. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, was stationed as a naval officer aboard the HMS Magpie. During World War II, Malta served as a crucial strategic base for the Allies against the Axis powers led by Nazi Germany. Notably, Prince Philip’s three sisters were married to high-ranking officers and nobles of the German Wehrmacht. On September 2, 1950, at the age of 29, the Duke of Edinburgh became the captain of the HMS Magpie, which was anchored near the Three Cities in Senglea, a notable tourist destination today.
Why Was Princess Elizabeth the Heir and Not Her Uncle Edward VIII?
King Edward VIII abdicated in his first year as monarch, before his official coronation in 1936, to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. The couple left Britain and went into exile in France. This unexpected turn led to Prince Albert becoming King George VI. His chosen regnal name marked a new era, and his “insignificant” ten-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, became the heir to the throne. As the eldest child, she was ahead of her younger sister, Margaret.
A Historical Detour: Edward VIII Abdicates for Love
Following the death of his father George V, Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, became King of Great Britain, Ireland, the Colonies and Emperor of India on 20 January 1936. The British King is also the head of the Church of England. The Church of England prohibits divorcees from remarrying as long as the former spouse is alive. The government of the United Kingdom and many colonies were against marriage for political and moral reasons. Wallis Simpson was about to divorce for the second time. To make matters worse, there was a police investigation into another of Wallis Simpson’s lovers, the car dealer Guy Trundle. The FBI uncovered further lovers of Wallis Simpson in the course of the investigation.
King Edward VIII declared that he loved Wallis Simpson and would marry her against the wishes of the government. The resistance of the Commonwealth governments to Simpson as the King’s consort was too great. 11 months after ascending the throne, King Edward VIII abdicated on 10 December 1936. His younger brother became King George VI. Edward VIII was made a Royal Highness, the Duke of Windsor, the next day.
Were there alternatives to the abdication of Edward VIII?
As at least the majority of the king’s advisors and the Church did not consider Wallis Simpson to be a suitable king, no legal means for the marriage were presented to the public. However, around 400 years earlier, King Henry VIII. And 250 years earlier King George I had the same problems without a solution. On the other hand, Queen Camilla Parker-Bowles’ ex-husband was still alive when she married Prince Charles. His ex-wife Princess Diana had already died. On the other hand, Charles was ‘only’ Prince of Wales. Perhaps due to his advanced age, there are no calls for him to abdicate. No further heirs to the throne are expected.
The marriage, which took place on 3 June 1937 at Candé Castle in the French Monts, ended with Eduard’s death on 28 May 1972.
The party for Princess Elisabeth’s 24th birthday took place in Malta
The couple’s stay on the island was one of the few opportunities they had to lead a relatively normal life. Villa Guardamangia, or Malta, was the only place outside the United Kingdom that the Queen ever called home. As the wife of a naval officer, the months spent in Malta are said to have been one of the happiest times in the Princess’s life. Relaxed and free:
- Dance Evenings and Samba Nights (Navy Ball at the Hotel Phoenicia)
- Picnic
- Water ski
- Tea parties for the officers’ wives
- Driving a car
- Parties with friends
- Shopping and hairdressing
- …
Princess Elisabeth Alexandra Mary had befriended the wives of officers. The Telegraph quoted the butler John Dean. He served Prince Philip’s uncle in Malta, Lord Louis Mountbattens. On her 60th wedding anniversary in Malta, the Queen mentioned that she celebrated her 24th birthday in Malta on 21 April 1950. This is remarkable because the Queen postponed her birthday parade in the UK until the warmer summer months. This birthday tradition has been in place for almost 300 years. King George II was too cold for a birthday party on 9 November.
Was there Elisabeth’s famous Dubonnet with gin, lemon and ice?
Elizabeth II is said to have particularly enjoyed Dubonnet with a third of gin, half a lemon wedge and ice cubes. Her Queen Mum, who died in 2002, also enjoyed the drink. It is not known that Princess Elizabeth served the Dubonnet with gin at her birthday party.
Princess Elisabeth spent Christmas 1949 in Malta
Princess Elisabeth travelled to Malta by train and ship for the Christmas holidays in her second year of marriage. Prince Charles celebrated his second Christmas with Grandma and Grandad, King George VI and the Queen Mother. (Source Dr Piers Brendon, Royal Historian)
After Princess Anne’s birth in August 1950, she and her sister Princess Margaret returned to Malta for the winter. This was her last winter in the sun as her father, King George VI, fell seriously ill in 1951 and died on 6 February 1952. The mother of her maid of honour, Lady Pamela, Lady Mountbatten, described Elizabeth’s return as ‘like putting a bird back in a very small cage’. Lady Pemela Hicks wrote the memoirs: Daughter of Empire.
Did Princess Elisabeth work in Malta?
Elisabeth is said to have worked for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) at the Auberge de Castile. As Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Elizabeth became the Patron of SSAFA, a charitable organisation of the Royal Armed Forces, in 1952. As a member of the royal family, her work for SSAFA was already her second ‘civil’ job. During the Second World War, she trained as a car mechanic (now known as a mechatronics engineer) with the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1945, she worked on an honorary basis for the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s division of the British Army. This also makes Queen Elizabeth stand out:
- Participant in a royal scout group
- Member of the Sea Rangers (Sea Scouts).
Princess Elisabeth was a member of the royal family with a full-time job in the military.
Malta was part of the British Commonwealth of Nations until 1964. Princess Elisabeth thus became Queen of Malta and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations upon her coronation. With the foundation of the Republic, the royal title for Malta ceased to exist.
A Closer Look: The Role of the Queen or King
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary-democratic hereditary monarchy. The monarchs have been the British head of state since 1952. They are also the rulers of the Commonwealth of Nations. As members of the Church of England (Anglican Church), they are its secular head. Political involvement of the monarchy is limited and they accept no responsibility for their actions.
Was Malta Princess Elisabeth’s first marital home?
After the end of the Second World War, Prince Philip remained stationed in Malta with the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet. Princess Elisabeth only visited her husband for a few weeks to a maximum of four months during her visits to Malta. In total, she lived in Malta four times in the two years. Prince Charles was born in 1948, followed shortly afterwards by Princess Anne. Elisabeth’s father, King George VI, reigned until his death in 1949. The Villa Guardamangia in Pietà is their first joint and marital residence. Before their marriage, the couple briefly lived at San Anton Palace in Attard,
The San Anton Palace, located in Attard and known in Maltese as Palazz ta’ San Anton, served as the official residence of the British Governor of Malta during the colonial period. Following Malta’s independence and the departure of British forces, the palace became the official residence of the President of the Republic of Malta.
While Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip resided on Malta between 1949 and 1951, their first child, Prince Charles, was not seen on the island during his early years. Born in 1948, he remained in the United Kingdom, often in the care of his grandparents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), during his parents’ extended stays in Malta.
How big was Villa Guardamangia?
According to publicly available data, the palazzo-style Villa Guardamangia has a total area of 1,560 square metres. The garden with fountain has an area of 930 square metres. This leaves 630 sqm on two floors with sea views:
- Living room,
- dining room,
- kitchen,
- salon,
- six bedrooms,
- three bathrooms,
- two garages
- air raid shelter
Did Princess Elisabeth have employees at Villa Guardamangia?
There are no publicly available sources on the number and activities of the employees. One of the first employees was her personal driver and ‘caretaker’ Chief Petty Officer Herbert H. Hicks. A reader of this site informed us that her grandmother worked as a cook for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Other employees included lady-in-waiting Alice Egerton, her detective, Inspector Alec Usher, her valet Pearce, her maid and former nanny Margaret ‘Bobo’ MacDonald and Prince Philip’s valet John Dean.
What is the history of Villa Guardamangia?
It was one of the first buildings to be constructed outside the fortifications of a fort or Valletta after the victory against the Ottomans.
The property is located near St Luke’s Hospital, built by a Spanish knight. A priest lived there until around 1814, before the property with its 900 square metre garden passed to the family of Sir Augustus Bartolo. He gave the farmhouse the name Casa Medina. How Lord Louis Mountbatten came to own Casa Medina and when or whether it was sold is disputed.
The Times of Malta writes that Casa Medina was bought by Lord Mountbatten as early as 1929 and was owned until the 1950s. Other sources say that the publisher and politician Joseph Schembri bought Villa Guardamangia in the 1940s.
Joseph Schembri then rented the villa to Lord Louis Mountbatten until 1954. Everyone agrees: Lord Mountbatten’s nephew Prince Philip became a tenant for two years, whether as his subtenant or main tenant.
Can Villa Guardamangia in Pieta be visited?
Unfortunately, Villa Guardamangia received little attention from the Maltese government for decades. Malta’s governments set other priorities and Malta’s cultural heritage meant very little.
The Commonwealth Summit 2015 brings movement for cultural heritage
At the 2015 Commonwealth Summit, the issue of Villa Guardamangia was brought to the attention of the British and Maltese by The Telegraph. At the end of 2019, the government bought the villa from co-owner and resident Marika Schembri and her siblings (source The Telegraph).
According to press reports, she demanded around 6 million euros via a real estate agent. It is not known how much the state of Malta paid. Presumably less. Otherwise the Maltese government would have bought the property before the Commonwealth Summit.
Queen Elisabeth is not allowed to visit Villa Guardamangia
This led to a scandal on the 60th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 2007. The owners’ association around Marika Schembri refused to allow the Queen to visit Villa Guardamangia for the diamond wedding anniversary. The owners’ perhaps valid reasons were not officially disclosed during the sales negotiations.
Since 2020, the Villa Guardamangia has been open to visitors while construction work is suspended. Several guided tours and at least one open day were organised in 2021 and 2022. The organisation responsible is Heritage Malta, Chief Operations Officer Kenneth Gambin.
At the last Commonwealth Summit in Malta in 2015, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were presented with a painting of Villa Guardamangia.
What is the condition of Villa Guardamangia?
You can see the state of Villa Guardamangia after Marika Schembri and her siblings moved out in the gallery. The brickwork is crumbling, the paint on the overpainted royal wallpaper is peeling off, the shutters are falling apart, the iron fittings are rusting and weeds are overgrowing the garden. This is how someone leaves a house when the new owner should be annoyed.
The government’s plan: the villa will be reconstructed and renovated by 2027. Not much to see in 2022. The European TV channel RTL wrote as early as 2020: Queen’s villa languishes in Malta. A commission of experts estimates the costs of the ‘Villa Guardamangia Museum’ at up to 10 million euros. The Villa Guardamangia has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.
The community of owners did not seem to be interested in looking after their million-dollar treasure and Maltese cultural assets. There were suggestions that the owners’ association had deliberately allowed the house to fall into disrepair so that it could be sold to a property developer for the construction of flats at the highest bid. Source: The Telegraph
What will Villa Guardamangia look like after restoration?
An exhibition is planned on the ground floor of Villa Guardamangia. It will show the centuries of the relationship between Malta and Great Britain, as well as the life of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Malta. The first floor of the museum will be historically reconstructed.
What traces does Queen Elizabeth II leave behind in Malta?
Queen Elizabeth visited Malta frequently. In 1967, she met with President Anthony Mamo. She took part in a ceremony to inaugurate a memorial to the British Admiral Sir Alexander Ball. Queen Elizabeth II was also Queen of Malta until the Republic of Malta was founded in 1974.
In 2007, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Malta. The diamond wedding couple travelled to the Commonwealth Conference in Uganda via Malta. The couple did not visit their (dilapidated) residence. As of 2022, the villa looks as it did after the Axis bombing raids on Germany. The owners’ association around Marika Schembri declined the request to visit. You can only be ashamed of some people. In 2015, Queen Elizabeth came to Malta for her last Commonwealth summit. According to media reports, a visit was also scheduled for these days, which was also cancelled. Villa Guardamangia will serve as a museum for the public once it has been restored.
Queen Elizabeth II attended her last Commonwealth Conference as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Malta in 2015. The Commonwealth comprises 56 voluntary, independent and equal countries with 2.5 billion people. The roots of the Commonwealth go back to the British Empire. Malta has been a member since 1964.
At Christmas 2015, Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to Malta in her Christmas message:
In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly married navy wife. Over the years we have returned to the island many times, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth Heads of State and Government, and this year I met another group of Heads of State and Government: The Queen’s Young Leaders, an inspirational group who are a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.’ (25.12.2015)
A memorial plaque for Queen Elizabeth in Valletta
On the bridge in front of the City Gate there is a plaque in honour of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, who last visited Malta in November 2015. The plaque shows the stages of Elizabeth II’s journey through Valletta in 2015.
FAQ - Do you have questions about the Queen's stay in Malta? We give you the answers!
Where did Princess Elisabeth and Prince Philip live in Malta?
Prince Philip and Princess Elisabeth lived in the San Anton Palace. They later moved into Casa Guardamangia (Villa Guardamangia, formerly Casa Medina). The large town house in Pietà covers an area of 1,560 square metres. Built in the Baroque style in the 18th century, the building was inhabited by a priest after a Spanish Knight of Malta.
Why did the newlyweds live in Pieta?
The Guardamangia villa with its harbour and sea views was rented by Philip’s uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten. During Prince Philip’s posting on HMS Magpie, the married couple were allowed to live there. Rumour has it:
- Lord Mountbatten introduced the couple in 1939.
- Princess Elisabeth was immediately enamoured.
- The couple only found each other in 1946.
Their common great-great-grandmother is Queen Victoria and was married to the Danish King Christian IX.
Was Queen Elizabeth the head of Malta and Malta a kingdom?
Malta was and is an independent, sovereign state. Malta joined the EU in 2004. During the British occupation, Malta was considered a constitutional monarchy. Her title was: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
The Queen’s power was limited by the Maltese constitution. During the occupation, Queen Elizabeth’s constitutional duties in Malta were mainly delegated to the Governor General. With the foundation of the Republic of Malta, the royal title for Malta ceased to exist.
How often did Queen Elizabeth visit Malta?
The Queen visited Malta in 1954, 1967 and 1992 and on 19 May 1992, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, together with President and former Captain of the Royal Malta Artillery Vincent Tabone, dedicated the memorial to the Siege Bell of Malta in Valletta. She celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary with Prince Phillip in Malta in 2007. Her last Commonwealth participation took place in Valletta in 2015. With nine visits, Malta is one of the countries most visited by the Princess and Queen. Canada was also part of the Kingdom and is the most visited of the 120 countries with around 17 visits. The USA, Italy and Germany follow with five visits.
Did Prince Charles live in Malta?
Prince Charles was born in 1948, perhaps even conceived in Malta. However, it did not seem usual at the time to fly around the world with a baby. There is no record of Prince Charles living with his parents at Villa Guardamangia in Malta until 1951. Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne visited Malta from 3 May to 7 May 1954 on the Commonwealth World Tour. The royal family travelled to the Grand Harbour on the Royal Yacht Britannia, escorted by the Royal Navy. King George VI died on 6 February 1952 at the age of 56.
How many children do Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have?
In addition to King Charles and Princess Anna, Queen Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Air Miles Andy was the Queen’s favourite son for a long time. Due to his many escapades, Prince Andrew relinquished his royal duties in 2019. He lost all military and royal titles when charges were brought against Prince Andrew in an abuse scandal, as a friend of multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein and the publisher’s daughter Ghislaine Maxwell.
Prince Edward, born on 10 March 1964, was the unsuccessful head of a production company for many years. The Earl of Wessex is married to Sophie Rhys-Jones, who spilled secrets about the royal family and British politicians to a fake sheikh (Sophiegate). It is not surprising that the then Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Secretary of State Kim Howells said: ‘The royals are all a bit mad.’ (British royal family as a bit bonkers).
Prince Edward performs royal duties for charitable organisations in the fields of youth, art and sport, for example as patron of the British Paralympic Association.
Who built Villa Guardamangia and who owned it?
It was built by a Spanish knight of the Order of Malta after the victory over the Ottomans. The former farmhouse belonged to a priest until around 1814. At the beginning of the 1900s, Sir Augusto Bartolo had the villa remodelled into its present form. The palazzo-style villa was given the name Casa Medina. In 1929, Lord Louis Mountbatten rented or bought Casa Medina, which overlooked the sea as well as the racecourse and golf course. Other sources name the publisher and politician Joseph Schembri as the owner of Villa Guardamangia and Lord Louis Mountbatten as a long-term tenant. After the renovation and associated return from the first-class Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana, the property was renamed Villa Guardamangia. Before it was sold to the government in 2019, Villa Guardamangia belonged to the Ġużè and Marika Schembri family.
Who owns Lord Mountbatten's house in Malta today?
Villa Guardamangia was bought by the Maltese government from the siblings of Marika Schembri in October 2019. The Government of Malta is planning to convert it into a museum.
Is the Villa Guardamangia a listed building?
The Maltese government declared Villa Guardamangia a national treasure. Due to its architectural, cultural and historical value, it has been categorised as a Grade 2 property. Grade 2 means that a building has historical and architectural value. A slight or moderate change to the building is possible.
And if you want to avoid monument protection, you can apply to the building authorities for regularisation for more extensive changes.
What celebrations did the Queen organise in Malta?
Princess Elisabeth spent Christmas in Malta in 1949. On 21 April 1950, Elisabeth Alexandra Maria celebrated her 24th birthday in Malta. The diamond wedding anniversary of Prince Philip and Queen Elisabeth also took place in Malta in 2007.
Who were Queen Elisabeth's parents?
Elizabeth Alexandra Maria and her sister Margaret were the daughters of Elizabeth, known as Queen Mum and Prince Albert (Bertie). They were the ‘us Four’. Prince Albert was the second-born son of King George V. His elder brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated before the coronation. So Elizabeth’s father Albert became King of the UK as George VI. He died a few years after the Second World War at the age of 56. Queen Mum died at the age of 101 on 30 March 2002.
What was Queen Elizabeth's nickname?
In his old age, Prince Philip affectionately called his Queen Queen Elizabeth Cabbage.
Why didn't Prince Philip become King Philip?
In the British monarchy, a king can make his wife queen. However, a queen cannot make her prince king. Then he would be above the Queen in rank. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark therefore knew that he would become his wife’s subject after the death of King George VI. He renounced the titles Prince of Greece and Denmark before the wedding and was appointed Prince by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.
What does the Queen have in her many handbags?
We don’t know whether she revealed all the paraphernalia in the interview with Paddington Bear. Excursions and state receptions often take a long time. The Queen always has a jam sandwich in her handbag for a little snack.
Do you have a question about Queen Elisabeth and Malta?
Get in touch with us. We are sure we have the right answer.
AFTERNOTE: The last majesty passed away on 8 September 2022 after 70 years of regency.
Malta is full of grief. Queen Elizabeth has given the Crown a face since the 1940s: Never complain. Never explaining. She moulded and helped the monarchy of the United Kingdom to an unquestionable reputation. Queen Elizabeth II stood for selfless fulfilment of duty to the last day. Her dedication makes King Elizabeth II one of the greatest rulers of all time.
