Queen’s affection for the island

This year, Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years on the throne. She is only the second monarch in British history, after Queen Victoria, to reach this milestone. During the Queen’s reign there have been 12 serving Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to current Prime Minister David Cameron, six Archbishops of Canterbury and 30 corgis.

The Duke... will see enough to appreciate why the Queen herself is so fond of Malta- Louise Stanton

Her Majesty is the most widely travelled British monarch, having visited 116 countries on 261 official overseas visits. She has carried out 96 state visits, including to Malta in 1992 and 2005, and has visited the island on three other occasions during her reign, most recently in 2007. That visit coincided with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s diamond wedding anniversary, during which they joined other couples celebrating their own anniversaries at an event in the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Statistics don’t always tell the whole story but in this case it is hard to question the Queen’s dedication and incredible commitment to the UK and the Commonwealth. And I think we all know that Her Majesty has an undeniable affection for Malta.

Back in the UK there will be celebrations across the country to mark the Diamond Jubilee. It will be a fantastic time to be in Britain. The Queen herself will be travelling across the United Kingdom to thank people throughout the country for their support. The celebrations will culminate in an extended bank holiday weekend in early June, with concerts, pageants and other events.

Outside the UK, Her Majesty has asked members of the Royal Family to represent her, and she has specifically asked for these visits to include Malta.

I am delighted that the Queen has asked the Duke of Gloucester to visit Malta on her behalf and I look forward to welcoming him on Friday. He will be able to see for himself the strong links between our two countries and to help mark both the Diamond Jubilee and another important event, the 70th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross to Malta.

We are naturally keen to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. It is a big event in a big year for the UK. It is the primary reason why the Duke is coming here. The occasion will be marked in particular by a Jubilee reception in the Lower Barrakka Gardens at which the Duke, together with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, will take part in a special tree planting ceremony.

However, it is fitting that the Duke can also be here for the 70th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross. It is a chance to remember again the incredible bravery and fortitude shown by the Maltese during World War II.

The Duke will also mark another significant milestone during his visit, as the British Council celebrates 75 years of cultural relations with Malta.

The office in Malta was one of the first to be established anywhere in the world, just three years after the creation of the British Council in 1934. Their work today is as important as ever. Promoting cultural relations has a huge role to play in building mutual trust and understanding between countries.

The Duke will open the British Council’s flagship event for 2012, a new exhibition of British contemporary art and photographs. This high calibre exhibition will include works by David Hockney and Cecil Beaton and I thoroughly recommend a visit to St James’ Cavalier, in Valetta, to view these rarely seen works.

I am especially pleased that the Duke will also have the opportunity while he is here to see some of the other aspects of Malta to be able to witness the incredible history of the island, ancient and modern, and to find out more about contemporary Malta.

I am sure he will welcome the chance to see firsthand the work of Inspire, the Foundation for Inclusion, in helping children and adults with learning and physical disabilities and, ahead of another big event for the UK this year – the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics – to meet some of the Maltese Paralympic hopefuls.

I hope too that the other visits and events will give him a flavour of what makes Malta a unique and important partner for the UK. The Duke won’t be able to see everything, of course, but I have no doubt he will see enough to appreciate why the Queen herself is so fond of Malta.

The author is the British High Commissioner to Malta.