Malta is today commemorating Republic Day with a series of events in Valletta.

This morning, members of the Armed Forces of Malta, accompanied by the AFM band, will march along Republic Street trooping the presidential colour.

The parade, organised by the National Festivities Committee within Festivals Malta, will start at 10am following a band march parade that will leave Freedom Square towards St George’s Square at 9.30am.

Trooping the presidential colour dates back to the times when the regiment’s colours provided a rallying point on the battlefield.

Without modern means of communication, it was all too easy for troops to become disoriented and separated from their unit during conflict. For troops to know what their regiment’s colours looked like, these were displayed regularly.

This was done by marching the colours along the lines of troops in slow time with the aim to impress it upon the soldiers’ memories.

The presidential colour was presented to the Armed Forces by the President in 2014. It symbolises the Armed Forces’ loyalty and devotion to the head of State and the people of Malta.

The National Festivities Committee is also organising a programme of band marches in Valletta.

The Soċjetà Filarmonika La Valette will today perform a band march starting from Freedom Square at 4.30pm.

Heritage Malta will today be opening free of charge the National Museum of Natural History and the Domus Romana.

A hall at the Natural History Museum, Mdina

The museum in Mdina is situated in an 18th-century palace, restructured by Grand Master Antonio de Vilhena, with plans by Charles François de Mondion in 1726. Designed in Parisian Baroque style, the Vilhena Palace also served as a temporary hospital until 1973 when it was inaugurated as the National Museum of Natural History.

The Domus Romana is situated on the outskirts of Mdina. The small museum is built around the remains of a rich aristocratic Roman town house which was accidentally dicovered in 1881.

Although very little remains from the house itself, the intricate mosaics which survived for centuries as well as the artefacts found within the remains are testimony of the original richness and story of this abode.

The current museum building does not only preserve some of the most precious Roman remains but also allows visitors to get a glimpse of life in  a Roman domestic household, ranging from fashion, education, entertainment, food and drink.

Both museums will open between 9am and 5pm, with the last admission at 4.30pm.

All other Heritage Malta museums and sites will open as usual at the normal admission fees.