Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia has asked for his family’s privacy to be respected, following reports that he and his wife Nickie Vella de Fremeaux are separating.

In a brief statement, Dr Delia acknowledged that he and his wife were going through “a difficult time”.

“I will keep doing my utmost to protect the wellbeing of our family and our children and to this end I humbly ask for our family's privacy to be respected, at this delicate moment more than ever,” he said.

Dr Delia and Dr Vella de Fremeaux have been married for 17 years. They have five children.