The late Queen's 96-year-long life was full of constant restrictions, aristocratic formality and putting duty to the crown before her own needs. But just before she had the responsibility of the throne.
The late Queen's 96-year-long life was full of constant restrictions, aristocratic formality and putting duty to the crown before her own needs.
But the heir to the throne's cherished days of freedom came to an end in July 1951, when she and her husband were forced to return home due to King George VI's failing health. Her youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie , The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, paid homage to his parents' happy memories on the island when he visited the villa they lived in yesterday
The couple moved to Malta in 1949, where Philip initially served as First Lieutenant on the destroyer HMS Chequers, before being given control of the frigate HMS Magpie in 1950. Newspapers chronicled people turning up at the couple's villa to hand her oranges. They reported her going to the cinema and a local hairdresser, enjoying picnics in the countryside and swimming at Sliema Beach, three miles from her home.Pictures show her chatting with locals, including an old lady weaving traditional lace.The Queen and Prince Philip are pictured at Villa Guardamangia in 1950.
Doris Mallia, 73, said: 'My late father would have been 100 today and he used to go fishing for crabs where the yacht club was in Floriana. Princess Elizabeth presents a trophy to Dr E Carrara of the Rome Polo Club after the team had beaten the Royal Navy in a match played at the Marsa in Malta. Prince Philip was on the losing Navy teamPrincess Elizabeth is saluted as she disembarks from a Viking aircraft, on her arrival at Northolt Airport in England. She had been away on a trip to Malta where she was visiting the Duke of Edinburgh
While they were in Malta, the couple stayed at the mid-18th century Villa Guardamangia, which was owned by Philip's uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten. It featured six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a grand hall, servants' quarters on the ground floor and, unusually for Malta, a fireplace in most rooms. It is believed she worked for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association at the Auberge de Castile.
And it was while on the island that Philip triggered global speculation that Princess Elizabeth was expecting her second child. While posing for a picture with Elizabeth at Villa Guardamangia, Philip gave a suspicious two-finger signal. Anne was born five months later She would return six times during her reign, including in 2007 when she and Philip celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.During her final visit to the country in 2015, she said: 'Visiting Malta is always very special for me. I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married.'
During her final visit to the country in 2015, then-Maltese president Marie Louise Coleiro presented the Queen and the duke with a watercolour of Villa Guardamangia during the trip'People remain somewhat attached to him because they know that he remembered Malta fondly. He took every opportunity to come here again when he could.'
He added: 'Most probably they enjoyed most the fact that they could be themselves without too much worry about official business, they wouldn't have journalists chasing them or what have you.' The restoration is expected to take at least five years, after which the house will eventually be opened as a museum.
The remnants of a belvedere stand in the garden of Villa Guardamangia which is now the subject of a restoration projectThe remains of a toilet are pictured inside the en suite bathroom of what was once Philip's bedroom at Villa GuardamangiaWhen her father fell severely ill in 1951 due to smoking-related health problems, she was forced to cut her trip short and return home to help out with royal duties.
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