Former presidents and prime ministers did not receive an invitation to attend the VVIP area at a reception at the Upper Barrakka Gardens on Saturday.

Among those who were ushered into another area were former president Eddie Fenech Adami and former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Hundreds of people were invited to the reception marking Malta’s 50th anniversary of Independence. It was hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The garden was divided into sections, with the balcony overlooking Grand Harbour being the VVIP area where President Marie-Louise Colerio Preca, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Prince William greeted a restricted number of guests.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s office said the number in the area around Prince William was restricted to between 60 and 65 at the request of British security.

At the request of Buckingham Palace, among those guests were representatives of several NGOs as the prince wanted meet a cross-section of Maltese society.

Others included Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, Foreign Minister George Vella, Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and Nationalist Party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami.

According to protocol, ministers come before the Leader of the Opposition, but apart from Mr Grech and Dr Vella, they were outside the restricted section. So were the other MPs.

Former presidents and prime ministers were able to meet Prince William, on a personal invitation, when he called at the National Library, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, outspoken Labour MP Marlene Farrugia complained about the restriction in the number of guests dictated by Buckingham Palace.

“We are celebrating the Independence of the Maltese Islands, not the presence of Prince William, though he is most welcome,” she said in a Facebook post.