The government yesterday announced arrangements for the state funeral of President Emeritus Guido de Marco.
The funeral cortege will leave Mater Dei Hospital for the President’s Palace in Valletta today at 9 a.m. Its route will take it through the Birkirkara and Sta Venera bypasses, Kappillan Mifsud Street in Ħamrun, past the Immaculate Conception band club and parish church, through Manuel Magri street, past the Nationalist Party headquarters in Pietà, and through Mountbatten, Joe Gasan and Dun Ġorġ Preca and National Road.
It will then go through Portes des Bombes and move on to St Anne Street, Floriana, followed by Great Siege Road.
Once in Valletta, the cortege will pass through Marsamxett Street, cross St Elmo Place, enter Merchants Street, go past St Dominic’s parish church and into St Christopher and St Paul streets, past St Paul’s Shipwreck collegiate church, and then go through Castille Place, Pope Pious V, Ordnance and Republic streets and St George’s Square, arriving at the President’s Palace at 10 a.m.
The public will be able to pay their last respects to Prof. de Marco at the Palace between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. today.
President George Abela will be paying his respects at 10.50 a.m., followed by Acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg at 11.15 a.m.
Tomorrow, the public may visit between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and again on Monday between 9 a.m. and noon.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be paying his respects at 11 a.m. on Monday.
A book of condolences will be on display for the public to sign on all three days.
On the day of the state funeral the cortege will leave the President’s Palace for St John’s Co-Cathedral at 2.40 p.m., arriving at 3.05 p.m. Mass praesente cadavere will be said by Archbishop Paul Cremona at 3.30 p.m.
After Mass the cortege will leave St John’s for the War Monument in Floriana passing through St John’s and Merchants streets, Castille Place and Ġilormu Cassar Avenue.
Once the cortege reaches the War Monument, it will proceed down St Anne Street, Floriana, through Blata l-Bajda, St Joseph Street, Ħamrun, past Ħamrun Liberty, Ħamrun Spartans and St Joseph band clubs, past the parish church and the St Cajetan band club, and through St Joseph High Road, Sta Venera, and on towards a private burial at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery.
Flags today and on Monday are to be flown at half mast as a sign of respect.