Their voices breaking, people shouted “Guido, Guido” as the coffin of the late President Emeritus, draped in a Maltese flag, was carried out of the Presidential Palace and headed towards St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta to loud applause.

The Armed Forces of Malta band led the cortege, as the mourners at the back of the procession, led by Prof. de Marco’s widow Violet, hid their tears behind dark sunglasses and black lace veils.

A heavy atmosphere hung over the mourners who had gathered to pay their last respects as the coffin was carried past his favourite café, Caffe Cordina. Men in black suits bit their lips to stop themselves from crying as they stood behind the barricades lining the streets.

The coffin was lifted by six army pall-bearers in white ceremonial dress with black armbands, while the decorations bestowed on Prof. de Marco were carried by two soldiers who marched behind the gun carriage.

The parish priest of St Dominic parish, where Prof. de Marco was baptised, walked in front of the coffin. Also taking part in the cortege were members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, wearing black cloaks bearing a white eight-pointed cross.

Hundreds braved the afternoon heat to bid farewell to the late former president and applauded loudly as his coffin passed by. Standing in the crowd, people were ready to sing his praises.

Karen Zammit, of Floriana, who worked with him at the Justice and Foreign Affairs Ministry, said: “He used to treat us all like we were his children. He was a wonderful man.”

Gloria Manicaro, who was his housekeeper at San Anton Palace during his five-year term as President, recalled one time when he showed her a photo album of travels. “I could not believe the President would want to bother to take time and show me the album,” she said.

Maria Doris Tabone, of Valletta, said: “We were 14 siblings and I can recall my mother inviting Guido de Marco over for lunch. He was such a great man and thanks to him we are now in the EU.”

Another woman told of how Prof. de Marco was her lawyer when she was hit by a car at 14 years of age. She smiled when she remembered eating all his chocolates: “He didn’t tell me off.”

An ex-policeman praised Prof. de Marco for the courage he gave to those seeking democracy in the 1970s and 1980s saying “he was a determining factor for democracy at the time”. According to him, Prof. de Marco became a man of compromise after the Nationalists won the election.

The deputy mayor of Balzan, Joseph Galea, standing in the crowd, said that Malta suffered a great loss as Prof. de Marco was a true patriot and politician, and hoped the current MPs followed in his footsteps.

A sizeable crowd watched the funeral Mass on big screens outside the co-cathedral – also transmitted live on the TV stations – and again applauded when the coffin was carried out of the co-cathedral.

The crowd slowly dispersed as the sombre procession made its way down Ġilormu Cassar Avenue where the final salutes were given to President Emeritus in front of the War Memorial in Floriana, to loud applause.

One woman yelled: “Love you forever.”

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