The Monarchy of Malta (the Maltese monarchy) was the system of government in which a hereditary monarch was the sovereign of Malta from 1964 to 1974. The position was occupied by Queen Elizabeth II, who was officially known as "Queen of Malta". Malta shared the Sovereign with the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the Governor-General of Malta.
The monarchy was abolished in 1974, when Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth.
History
Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, became Queen of the state of Malta by the Malta Independence Act 1964, which transformed the British Crown Colony of Malta into an independent sovereign state. The Queen's executive powers were delegated to and exercised by the Governor-General of Malta. In common with other Commonwealth realmsâ€"independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations sharing the same head of stateâ€"the royal succession was governed by the English Act of Settlement of 1701.
Elizabeth II remained the head of state of Malta until the amendment of the Constitution of Malta on 13 December 1974, which abolished the monarchy and established a republic and the office of President of Malta.
Elizabeth II visited Malta in 1954 (3â€"7 May), 1967 (14â€"17 November), 1992 (28â€"30 May), 2005 (23â€"26 November), and 2007 (20 November). She referenced her 1967 visit in her Christmas Broadcast that year, saying: "Today Malta is independent, with the Crown occupying the same position as it does in the other self-governing countries of which I am Queen. This is the opening of a new and challenging chapter for the people of Malta and they are entering it with determination and enthusiasm."
Between 1949 and 1951, before she became queen, she stayed on the islands four times, visiting her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was stationed in Malta as a serving officer in the Royal Navy.
List of monarchs
Titles
See also
- Order of St Michael and St George
References
External links
- Speech delivered by Elizabeth II at State banquet in Malta, 23 November 2005
- Speech delivered by Elizabeth II at opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, 25 November 2005