The recently named Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Valletta does not sit well in the Republic of Malta.

Malta attained independence in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. However, the word rjal (royal) confirms that some people still feel very nostalgic for the British colonial days, which stretched out for 164 years.

We are proud of our constitutional achievements but the powers that be still thought it fit to use that term.

The Royal Opera House was bombed and destroyed during World War II. Yet, the British colonial rulers never bothered to fund its rebuilding. This is in contrast to the historic Dresden church, which was rebuilt with British Government funds after it too was destroyed in the bombings.

I appeal for the name to be changed to Pjazza tat-Teatru.