Annabelle Xerri

The Queen will present a Queen’s Young Leaders Award to “two exceptional young people from Malta” at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London on June 23.

As the Commonwealth celebrates the Queen’s 90^th birthday, this year’s award winners - 29-year-old Annabelle Xerri and 20-year-old Sara Ezabe Malliue - have been recognised by the Queen for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.

As a Queen’s Young Leader, they will be representing Malta as they join winners from 45 Commonwealth countries in London for five days of high-level engagements, designed to help them further their life-changing work.

Before receiving their Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace, they will visit 10 Downing Street and the UK headquarters of global social networking company Twitter, and meet with senior executives at the BBC World Service.

Sara Ezabe Malliue

They will also meet the Commonwealth Secretary General, take part in workshops at the University of Cambridge, have meetings with UK business leaders, and visit projects that are changing the lives of vulnerable people in the UK.

Annabelle Xerri is being recognised for her work to ensure equal opportunities for the deaf community in Malta. Sara Ezabe Malliue is being acknowledged for work to promote a more diverse and inclusive society.