Queen Elizabeth II this morning opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, bringing together leaders from 52 countries.

The ceremony was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. 

The Queen paid tribute to the Maltese government and the people of Malta, who, she said, had shown resolute support to the Commonwealth.

Malta, the Queen said, was one of the small states of the Commonwealth and a reminder that a nation’s size was no measure of the moral strength of its people.

The Queen spoke fondly of the time she spent in Malta with her husband as a newly-married couple in the early 1950s and added: "Prince Philip and I first came to live here in 1949, the same year in which the Commonwealth was founded."

She said she has "cherished" her time as leader of the Commonwealth, a role she has held for more than 60 years.

"I feel enormously proud of what the Commonwealth has achieved, and all of it within my lifetime," she added.

I feel enormously proud of what the Commonwealth has achieved, and all of it within my lifetime

She thanked the Prince of Wales for his support and "great distinction" and praised the Duke of Edinburgh for his "boundless energy and commitment".

The Queen and Prince Philip arrived at the Mediterranean Conference Centre shortly before 10am, a few minutes after Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and the heads of government.

The were welcomed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Mrs Muscat and the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma and his wife.

Among the prime ministers attending the Malta meeting are UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

French President Francois Hollande is expected to join the meeting in the afternoon.

Former UK Prime Minister John Major is also present.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire arrive for the opening ceremony.

In his welcoming address, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke of the need for the Commonwealth to be more relevant and close to the aspirations of citizens.
He said it should be about extending networks beyond regional affiliations, about the future.

Countries, he said, should speak honestly to one another as silence did not help anyone. The Commonwealth’s most glorious days, he said, were when it did speak out.

Dr Muscat spoke about the priorities of the meeting, saying they were mainly education, good governance, equality and climate change.

The focus of the meeting will be climate change, ahead of next week's Climate Change Summit in Paris. However delegates are also expected to discuss security issues and ways to make the Commonwealth more relevant.

An informal session of the meeting, better known as the 'retreat' will be held at Fort St Angelo.

A Commonwealth unit targeting the extremism is also being set up under plans announced by Mr Cameron this morning.

Several countries, including India, are represented by ministers. Kenya and Tanzania sent their High Commissioners.

This is the second CHOGM to be held in Malta in 10 years and it may well be the last to be attended by the Queen, 89, since the next two meetings will be held in the Pacific and the Queen no longer travels long haul.

Watch the opening ceremony below.

Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

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David Cameron arriving at MCC. Photo: Reuters