There were excited shrieks and cheers as Prince William emerged from the National Library in Valletta yesterday to greet crowds made up mostly of tourists.
Crowds gathered outside Auberge de Castille and St George’s Square, where the Duke of Cambridge watched a historical re-enactment from beneath a white marquee.
Lara Portelli from Pembroke said: “We were right in front and managed to get some really good pictures.”
In the meantime, Pierre and Angela Scerri from Żurrieq shook the prince’s hand. “He seems like a genuinely nice, down-to-earth person,” they said.
The Duke of Cambridge is in Malta as the guest of honour for the festivities marking 50 years of independence.
He called on President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca before proceeding to Castille, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle and their twin daughters, who presented the duke with a bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear for Prince George.
But not everyone was aware of the importance of the occasion.
“We have absolutely no idea what’s going on,” Regis Louis from France said.
“We just spotted the police, the barriers and all the security staff and we came to watch.”
Mark Dilloway from the UK was still under the impression that the Duchess of Cambridge was visiting Malta (she withdrew at the last minute due to morning sickness).
I think it’s good that UK’s future king came over
“I think it’s good that our future king came over though. It’s a sign of the bond between Malta and the UK, which is important for both countries.”
A substantially larger crowd gathered at St George’s Square, attracted by the loud gunfire sounds and colourful garb of the In Guardia parade, which enacted the inspection of the fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John.
Ten-year-old Charlie Garner from the UK, who has been living in Malta with his family for over a year, went to Valletta equipped with the Union Flag.
“I’m hoping he’ll see us. Mum embarrassed me though by shouting: ‘How’s Kate?’” he said.
“I don’t think the prince heard me though,” his mother, Mandy, laughed.
Wilbert Tabone from Kirkop, a fan of the royal family, said it was a great honour that a senior royal had come to mark Malta’s Golden Jubilee since gaining independence.
“I think that the Prime Minister’s call for national unity on this occasion, irrespective of political affiliation, is how things should be. Milestones such as the independence were achieved for all the Maltese to enjoy and should therefore be celebrated by all.”
The Duke of Cambridge later attended a reception at the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The evening was rounded off with a fireworks display and an audiovisual show projected on to Fort St Angelo and screens at Ta’ Liesse.
Today, the duke will be attending a Pontifical Mass at St John Co-Cathedral, visiting Vittoriosa and will travel across Grand Harbour on a dgħajsa.