I trust the irony of Joseph Calleja singing Rule Britannia at the Proms – the very embodiment of empire and colonial power - was not lost on those correspondents who despise the British in general and continually argue against the retention of the George Cross on the Maltese flag, in particular.

His performance was a tour de force and such a good advertisement for Malta.

He even managed to include Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone, which the Malta branch of Manchester United supporters’ club must have enjoyed nearly as much!

Very well done, Joseph! As an Englishman and a “scouser” that was a perfect double!