Saint Ġorġ Preca is her husband’s great-great-uncle but President-elect Marie- Louise Coleiro Preca has some fine lineage of her own in her family tree.

According to a genealogist, she is related to a Russian Romanov princess.

Charles Said-Vassallo, who has been studying Maltese genealogy, particularly that of nobility, for more than 15 years, said that Ms Coleiro Preca was the first cousin, twice removed of Edgar Tabone who was married to Princess Nathalie Poutiatine, a member of the Russian royal family who moved to Malta after the Bolshevik revolution. It was here that the princess met her future husband,” he said.

Ms Coleiro Preca’s great-grandfather, Salvatore Coleiro, married Teresa Tabone, Edgar’s aunt. Princess Nathalie and Edgar never had children themselves but Ms Coleiro Preca is connected through lineage, he explained.

More details in Times of Malta.

PRESIDENT'S SWEARING IN  - FULL PROGRAMME

Ms Coleiro-Preca will be sworn in as President today at a special sitting of the House of Representatives in the Grand Council Chamber of the Palace in Valletta following Mass at Dar Tal-Providenza.

The programme of events is the following. The events will be live-streamed on timesofmalta.com:

2.15pm The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive at the main square in Luqa to meet the local community.

2.35 The President-Elect and Mr Preca leave Luqa to attend Solemn Mass at Dar tal-Providenza.

3pm Solemn Mass at Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi, celebrated by Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona.

4.10 The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive at the main square in Siġġiewi to meet the local community.

4.40 The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive at St. George Parish Church Square to meet the local community.

5.05 The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive at St. Sebastian Parish Church Square to meet the local community.

5.30 Guard of Honour of the Armed Forces of Malta marches from the Independence Monument, Floriana to St. George’s Square, Valletta.

5.35 The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive in Valletta.
The President-Elect and Mr Preca proceed on foot, together with a number of school children, from Palazzo Ferreria through Republic Street to The Palace, Valletta.

5.45 Guard of Honour of the Armed Forces of Malta arrives at St. George’s Square.

5.55 The President-Elect and Mr Preca arrive at the Palace and are greeted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

6.05 The President and Mrs Abela arrive at St. George’s Square.
The President is accorded a National Salute.
The President inspects a Guard of Honour.
The President and Mrs Abela enter The Palace.
The House of Representatives is called to order in the Grand Council Chamber.

6.14 The President of Malta meets the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President-Elect in the Pages Room. The President of Malta, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President-Elect are escorted to the Grand Council Chamber.

The House of Representatives meets.
• Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca takes the Oath of Office as President of Malta.
• The President signs the Oath and the Speaker countersigns it.
• The Armed Forces of Malta fire a twenty-one gun salute from Fort St. Elmo.
• The President of Malta reads the Proclamation and signs it.
• The Clerk of the House asks the Prime Minister to countersign the Proclamation.
• The Speaker of the House adjourns the sitting of the House of Representatives.

6.20 The President of Malta delivers her speech.
The President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Mr Preca, together
with President Emeritus George Abela and Mrs Abela proceed to the main
balcony of The Palace.

The President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca together with the Prime
Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the chairperson of
Alternattiva Demokratika proceed to the main balcony of The Palace.

6.30 The President signs the appointment letter as Head of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika and the National Order of Merit together with the conferment of Companion of Honour of the Order.

6.55 The Guard of Honour forms up in St. George’s Square.

7.00 The President and Mr Preca meet guests in The Palace courtyard.

7.10 The President of Malta and Mr Preca together with the Prime Minister and Mrs Muscat are escorted by the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta out of The Palace to St. George’s Square. The President is accorded a National Salute and inspects a Guard of Honour.

Flypast by the Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta

7.15 President of Malta H.E. Mrs Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Mr Preca are escorted by the Mounted Police to the War Memorial in Floriana.
Wreath laying Ceremony – War Memorial, Floriana
 
7.25 The President and Mr Preca proceed to San Anton Palace, Attard.

7.35 The President and Mr Preca arrive at San Anton Palace where they meet for the first time the staff of the Presidential Palace.

7.45 The Prime Minister pays a courtesy call on The President at San Anton Palace.

8.00 The Leader of the Opposition pays a courtesy call on The President at San Anton Palace.

8.15 The Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika pays a courtesy call on The President at San Anton Palace.