CHOGM dinner at Hagar Qim cancelled due to weather conditions

A dinner for the Commonwealth heads of government and their spouses at Hagar Qim was cancelled, and moved to the Xara Lodge in Rabat.

The dinner, hosted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, was scheduled for 08.00pm today. Other events organized for the CHOGM summit were not affected by the weather, however, the uncharacteristically bad weather has been the cause of many changes in the royal visit programme over the past couple of days.

The two-day royal visit on occasion of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting which started yesterday, was altered from the very beginning due to inclement weather.

Her majesty Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to travel to Valletta and be greeted by the President, Prime minister, Archbishop and various ministers at St. George’s Square in Valletta, but the gusty winds and strong rainfall meant that the greeting was moved to San Anton Palace. There were fears that the Queen’s ferry crossing from Kalkara to Valletta would also have to be cancelled, but the tentative sunshine held and the winds died down long enough to allow the trip to take plac. However, rains are expected again by tonight.

Further plans changed included the Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to the Capuccini Naval Cemetery, in Kalkara, where she was meant to place a wreath and speak to war veterans. The event was moved to the British High Commissioner’s residence in San Pawl tat- Targa.