Former President Eddie Fenech Adami and former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi were kept out of a VVIP area at a reception in the Upper Barrakka yesterday.

Several hundred guests were invited to the reception, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister to celebrate Independence.

The gardens were divided into sections, with the balcony being the site where the President, the Prime Minister and Prince William greeted the top guests. The number of people in the area around Prince William was restricted at the request of British security.

Former President Fenech Adami and former Prime Minister Gonzi were directed to another section of the gardens. 

In a reaction, a government spokesman said the VVIP area was severely restricted. The guests there, with the President and Prince William, were the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and the foreign minister, the leader of the opposition, the PN deputy leader (Beppe Fenech Adami) and representatives of NGOs.

Former Presidents were able to meet Prince William when he called at the National Library (Dr Fenech Adami could not attend).

Dr Gonzi will be among the guests at a reception at the British High Commissioner's residence this afternoon.

MP'S PROTEST

Labour MP Marlene Farrugia said on Facebook that it was not acceptable that ex-Presidents and ex-Prime Ministers like Dr Fenech Adami and Dr Gonzi were not allowed in the VVIP area.

"Buckingham Palace might have set the number for security reasons though I doubt the might of the UK security is so limited.in any case it is the government which chose the 65, and if 65 was not an acceptable number it should have said so.
We are celebrating the Independence of the Maltese Islands, not the presence of Prince William, though he is most welcome.

"However , people, the SHOW, must go on !
Viva Malta Indipendenti!"