Malta presented the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with a Maltese lace summer blanket on the occasion of the christening of Princess Charlotte.

The gift was sent by the Prime Minister and Mrs Muscat on behalf of the government and people of Malta.

Mrs Muscat commissioned the work to qualified lace teacher Marian Buttigieg, who adapted the design from old traditional patterns.

The centre piece is worked using the English stitch as the basic ground with sprays of small flowers and leaves scattered on it. The eight-pointed Maltese Cross is included in the centre.

The work was done by lace makers Mary Sultana and Victoria Debrincat under the constant supervision of their teacher. The blanket is monogrammed with the Princess initials C. E. D. The lace is in fine pure silk that was ordered from silk manufacturers in UK.

Lace is a decorative textile which was mainly used to embellish the elaborate costumes of the aristocrats.

Malta was highly renowned for its laces especially by the British. Although it was called Maltese lace it was mainly worked in Gozo, were the craft is still worked in the traditional way.