A mix of admiration, curiosity and simple coincidence drew a small, international crowd of onlookers to catch a brief glimpse of the Queen as she drove into San Anton Palace, in Attard yesterday.

The bad weather and the last-minute change of venue from St George’s Square, in Valletta seem to have kept the crowds away but about 100 people, including a number of children, still braved the wind and the rain, waving and cheering as the Queen and Prince Philip passed by.

“At her age, it’s incredible that she still does so much,” said one of the first people to arrive, a mother who had brought her son for the occasion. “If it were me, I’d be at home with my feet up, not travelling around the world still doing my duty.”

Among those gathered in the street was a British man thrilled to see the Queen for the first time, despite having lived in the UK for most of his life.

“I thought it was important to come here. It would have been nice if she’d slowed right down and waved but maybe there’ll be other opportunities in the next few days,” he said. “I think it’s quite an honour for Malta to have her here; she doesn’t do many overseas tours. It’s great that she’s come back and I think it shows how highly she thinks of the country.”

While some were drawn by their memories of the Queen from previous visits to the island, others simply wanted to see what the fuss was about.

“I worked at the Commonwealth Games last year and met Prince Edward there,” said an American woman who stopped by while walking her dog. “I know the Queen photobombed the Australian girls’ hockey team, which I thought was kind of cool.”

Royal family and Malta

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who was accompanied by his wife and two daughters, welcoming Queen Elizabeth II at the airport yesterday afternoon. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

• The country has a special significance for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951. Prince Philip was leader of the First Destroyer Flotilla Chequers in the Mediterranean Fleet at the time.

• The Queen has been the Head of the Commonwealth since 1952, and has undertaken more than 200 Commonwealth visits.

• Yesterday’s official welcome for the Queen took place at the President’s San Anton Palace, which itself holds plenty of evidence of past Royal visits.

• This week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will bring together nations from every geographical region, religion and culture in the world.

Prince Philip, 94, back to the island where he served between 1949 and 1951 as a Royal Navy officer. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Force 7 winds and heavy rain dominated the arrival of Queen Elizabeth and the other members of the royal family. An AFM guard of honour awaited the royal guests.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca having a private word with Queen Elizabeth on their way inside San Anton Palace, Attard. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi. Right: The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Malta International Airport on a separate flight from the rest of the royal party. Photo: Reuters