Photo: PAPhoto: PA

Between 1949 and 1951, the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II – then still a princess – would step aboard a red dgħajsa tal-pass at Custom House in Valletta to be ferried across to Fort St Angelo where her husband Prince Philip was stationed.

More than 60 years later, her grandson’s wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, will be carried across Grand Harbour in the very same boat during her visit to mark Malta’s Golden Jubilee since gaining Independence on September 21, 1964.

The boat is owned by Andy Whibley, who runs a water taxi business in Vittoriosa, after he purchased it from Carmelo Camilleri 10 years ago.

“I heard that Kate was going to be ferried across the harbour in a speed boat,” the 67-year-old said, as he busied himself with refurbishing the tilted boat at a slipway along the Senglea waterfront.

“So I contacted the British High Commission and informed them that I owned the boat the queen used to board during her time in Malta.

Princess Elizabeth would often stop by and talk to us – although we didn’t understand much English at the time

“They asked whether they could have a look at it and they sent a representative from the High Commission as well as the Prime Minister’s Office to inspect it.

“I took them for a short trip and they informed me that I’ll be ferrying the Duchess of Cambridge on the 21st,” he smiled.

The Brit, who has been living in Malta since 1992, was told the duchess will board the small harbour boat from Vittoriosa, opposite the Freedom Monument, and will be ferried to Custom House in Valletta.

Andy Whibley purchased this historic dgħajsa tal-pass from Carmelo Camilleri 10 years ago. He will use it to ferry the Duchess of Cambridge across Grand Harbour, mimicking voyages taken by her grandmother- in-law more than 60 years ago. Photo: Matthew MirabelliAndy Whibley purchased this historic dgħajsa tal-pass from Carmelo Camilleri 10 years ago. He will use it to ferry the Duchess of Cambridge across Grand Harbour, mimicking voyages taken by her grandmother- in-law more than 60 years ago. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter-in-law. Photo: PACatherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter-in-law. Photo: PA

In the meantime, he is busying himself with maintenance works to make the old boat fit for a princess once again.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m doing up the boat by reapplying paint and varnish. We’re making some lovely cushions as well as a canopy and curtains, which will be white with red tassels.”

Mr Whibley purchased the boat from Mr Camilleri for some Lm2,000 (€4,660). The boat used to be stored in an old garage and was in dire need of repair.

“I bought it for the prestige value more than anything else. It can fit six people; although in the past, some 13 sailors would squeeze into it – they would be drunk of course,” he grinned.

The harbour boat is made of a variety of woods, including mahogany, ash, teak and redwood.

The late Mr Camilleri used to work as a barklor (ferryman), plying passengers between ship and shore.

In the harbour’s heyday, with the British Mediterranean fleet, some 200 to 300 dgħajjes plied the harbour’s waters before the advent of its quays, which made most dgħajjes redundant.

Nowadays, only some 35 dgħajjes tal-pass remain.

“I remember the first time I saw Princess Elizabeth very clearly,” Mr Camilleri’s widow, Carmela, now in her 80s, recalled.

“She was walking down Republic Street and she was dressed so beautifully – nothing grand but also nothing like what we Maltese used to dress in at the time.

“My husband was proud to ferry her – although for him, it was business as usual. She would often stop by and talk to us Maltese – although we didn’t understand much English at the time,” she said with a laugh.

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