Then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived at Villa Guardamangia in Valletta from 1949 to 1951 during his service, an era which biographer Ben Pimlott has described as the " most 'normal' of her entire life " and then-private secretary Mike Parker called a "fabulous period."

The first time a Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh set foot inside Villa Guardamangia, Malta, it was 1949 and they were flushed with the joy of young married life.Princess Elizabeth, as she was better known at the time,

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are on a four-day visit to Malta to mark the 60th anniversary of the country's independence.

Sophie shared a very close relationship with her mother-in-law the late Queen and appeared emotional during a recent visit in Malta.

The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared deeply moved as she and Prince Edward paid tribute to the late Queen during a heartfelt visit to Malta. The couple recreated photos of the former monarch

Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, are currently in Malta to mark the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence and celebrate the country’s shared heritage and continuing collaboration with the UK.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were taken on a tour of a Maltese villa where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip lived more than 70 years ago. Edward and Sophie were guided around Villa Guardamangia on the third day of their tour of Malta and were told about restoration work being carried out on the late monarch's former residence.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh have recreated an iconic photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their four-day tour in Malta.

The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward have returned to the UK prepared to face a royal "snub". Sophie, 59, and Edward, 60, travelled to Malta for four days to celebrate the 60th year of its independence.