The Queen’s former Malta home may turn into a museum that explores the country’s ties to the monarch and The Duke of Edinburgh, who spent part of their early marriage at Villa Guardamangia while Prince Philip was stationed in Malta.
Then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent time at the villa, which had been leased to the Earl Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, between 1949 and 1951. Prince Philip had been stationed there by the Royal Navy, and The Queen joined him to live a ‘normal existence’ before her royal duties ramped up after her father became increasingly ill.
The Queen ascended to the throne in 1952, and Prince Philip gave up his naval career, though they have visited Villa Guardamangia several times, including a 1992 state visit to Malta. In 2007, they returned to the villa to mark their 60th wedding anniversary.
The Queen said during a visit to the country in 2007, “Visiting Malta is always very special for me. I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married.”
In an old interview with TVM, resident Guzeppi Formosa spoke about the period of time The Queen and Prince Philip lived there. He said:
“She was much loved here, people used to wait to wave to her, she would respond back waving her hand. I also remember [Prince Philip] and his uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten who was in India.
“Prince Philip was very smart, he used to drive towards the Drydocks, and he even had trouble when once he nearly hit some persons who were carrying big beams and someone threw an object at him. They then prevented him from driving there and gave him a bicycle to avoid trouble.”
In 2019, Villa Guardamangia was listed for sale by a luxury real estate agency. Its description mentioned the authentic architectural features that included high ceilings, stables and guest/servant quarters. The villa was built in 1900 in the grand Palazzo style.
The government of Malta purchased the villa for €5 million and now plans are underway to turn it into a museum, with local residents urged to share or donate any relics they have from The Queen and Prince Philip’s stay. It is anticipated that renovations to the property to restore the villa to its former glory and into a museum will cost €10 million.
