Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip given official farewell

Queen Elizabeth the second was given an official farewell by a guard of honour as she departed Malta at the end of a two-day state visit on occasion of CHOGM 2015. The visit might be the last time she travels for the biannual Commonwealth meetings after her decision to avoid long-haul flights.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were seen off by ministers and President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

The monarch departed after a full two-day programme, where she attended the official opening and hosted various events in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth.

Immediately before their departure, the royals visited the Marsa racecourse, where Prince Philip used to play polo during their time living in Malta between 1949 and 1951.

Royals visit the Marsa racecourse where Prince Philip used to play polo when the couple resided in malta between 1949 and 1951

(Images taken from British Monarchy Twitter feed)

Earlier today the Queen said that visiting Malta has always been a special pleasure to her.

Speaking at the end of a tour of the Heritage Malta premises in Kalkara, she spoke of the way she had seen the country progress over the years.

“Since my first experience of Malta in 1949 as a young woman, I have seen this country evolve into a strong nation which plays an important role on the world stage. When Prince Philip and I returned in November 2007 at the time of our Diamond Wedding Anniversary, we could not help but be impressed by the progress and the sense of optimism.”

The visit marks the monarch’s seventh official visit, with the latest visit being in 2007 on occasion of her 60th wedding anniversary to the Duke of Edinburgh. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip also lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951 when her husband was stationed here as a naval officer and Malta was still a British colony.

“I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married, and the wonderful official visits over the past sixty years,” she said.