This week, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip are making an official visit to the Mediterranean island of Malta - whose peoples were awarded the George Cross during the Second World War following attacks and a seige from Facist ( combined German and Italian) forces. The Island often referred to as the George Cross Island was up until recent times a strategic British Naval base.
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Military helicopters buzzed overhead and sharpshooters kept watch from rooftops as Queen Elizabeth II began her first overseas trip since the July 7
terrorist attacks in London.
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Military helicopters buzzed overhead and sharpshooters kept watch from rooftops as Queen Elizabeth II began her first overseas trip since the July 7
terrorist attacks in London. .
The Queen is given flowers by a well-wisher as she takes part in a walkabout in Republic Street, Valletta, in Malta, shortly after her arrival on the island to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
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Security in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of Malta was tight ahead of the three-day Commonwealth summit which begins on Friday.
Still, applauding well-wishers were allowed to line the pavements of the narrow medieval street in the Maltese capital's historic centre where the monarch's motorcade passed.
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During the early evening, Her Majesty took a 10-minute walk past the crowds as thousands of Christmas lights, decorating the street, twinkled overhead.
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Maltese nationals crowded onto balconies and pressed up against windows in buildings lining the street for a glimpse of the Queen, who arrived two days ahead of the summit's opening.
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Malta, which includes three inhabited islands lying strategically between north Africa and Italy, gained independence from Britain in 1964 and joined the European Union (EU) last year. Now a general disillusionment from much of the population according to Reuters regarding EU membership. Reuters reports that ''euphoria" is deffinatly waning as the EU struggles to approve a budget and poorer new members, such as Malta face having to share the cost of enlargement. Prime minister Lawrence Gonzi says his country still stood by the sacrifices it made to qualify and was benefiting from millions of euros of annual aid but the joy of joining had yielded to a realisation that the proposed EU constitution was in limbo and that the budget was in deadlock.
Security in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of Malta was tight ahead of the three-day Commonwealth summit which begins on Friday.
Still, applauding well-wishers were allowed to line the pavements of the narrow medieval street in the Maltese capital's historic centre where the monarch's motorcade passed.
.
During the early evening, Her Majesty took a 10-minute walk past the crowds as thousands of Christmas lights, decorating the street, twinkled overhead.
.
Maltese nationals crowded onto balconies and pressed up against windows in buildings lining the street for a glimpse of the Queen, who arrived two days ahead of the summit's opening.
.
Malta, which includes three inhabited islands lying strategically between north Africa and Italy, gained independence from Britain in 1964 and joined the European Union (EU) last year. Now a general disillusionment from much of the population according to Reuters regarding EU membership. Reuters reports that ''euphoria" is deffinatly waning as the EU struggles to approve a budget and poorer new members, such as Malta face having to share the cost of enlargement. Prime minister Lawrence Gonzi says his country still stood by the sacrifices it made to qualify and was benefiting from millions of euros of annual aid but the joy of joining had yielded to a realisation that the proposed EU constitution was in limbo and that the budget was in deadlock.
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What is the benefit to Malta of being a member of the Commonwealth now that the Island state is a EU member ? Comment to follow on future postings.
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