Malta: why the Queen’s cherished island is worth a visit

The Queen has never been one for a beach holiday, but as a young woman she loved spending time on the sun-dappled island of Malta. The then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed on the island regularly just after the Second World War, the newly weds residing at the Villa Guardamangia from 1949 to 1951. They enjoyed being near the sea, visiting the racetrack and being out of the public eye. The Queen is even said to have visited a hairdresser for the first time there. Viewers of The Crown will be familiar with this period, which the Queen and Prince Philip reportedly described as one of the happiest times in their lives.

The currently dilapidated Villa Guardamangia, which is just outside the Maltese capital Valletta, is about to undergo a major renovation and will be turned into a museum. It will be another attraction to add to Malta’s impressive list of ‘things to see’, and with Malta announcing that they will welcome back fully-vaccinated tourists from June, those wishing to follow in royal footsteps for their holidays should get booking asap.