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 Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have commemorated Second World War submariners who sunk off the coast of Malta, where the young Prince Philip served.The Duke and Duchess sailed through Valletta harbour before throwing a wreath and posy into the sea to commemorate British and Maltese lives lost during the war.On the second day of their trip to the island nation, Prince Edward and Sophie boarded a military ship, where they were treated to dramatic views of the capital’s yellow limestone buildings.Accompanied by the armed forces of Malta, the Duke threw a wreath and the Duchess a posy of flowers into the water before a gun salute sounded from one of the city’s high points.Earlier in the morning they had opened a new monument to submariners who lost their lives in the Second World War, the Submariners’ Walkway.The Duke unveiled a plaque and then untied a ribbon to open the walkway, prompting applause from a group gathered nearby which included descendants of the submariners who fought in the conflict.Speaking to them, Prince Edward said: “It’s great to have that recognition now of the service.”Three British submarines were especially commemorated – HMS Olympus, HMS Urge and HMS Upholder – the first two of which sank off the coast of Malta in 1942.The Duke and Duchess then visited the National War Museum, where they viewed a plaque marking the site where the late Queen Elizabeth II – then known as Princess Elizabeth or the Duchess of Edinburgh – “took the salute of the Mediterranean fleet before entering the harbour” in 1950.The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was with the fleet as first lieutenant in HMS Chequers, according to the plaque.Sophie touched the words “Duchess of Edinburgh” on the stone and said it was “very special” to see.After the boat journey, the Duke and Duchess walked to the Maritime Museum, saying hello to members of the public as they strolled past – many taking their phones out to snap photos and videos of the royal pair.Once at the museum, Edward and Sophie spent a few moments on a balcony overlooking the harbour before entering a reception attended by armed forces personnel and members of the Maltese-UK Veterans’ Association.The Duke will later open a new headquarters for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award in Malta.Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.

Prince Edward and Sophie toured Villa Guardamangia on Wednesday, and heard about restoration work taking place on the former residence of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip when they were a young married couple.

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie just recreated a 70-years-old romantic royal photograph, showing that love and the British throne really stand the test of time!The historical picture in questioned featured the late Queen Elizabeth with

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.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on day three of their royal tour of Malta. Prince Edward and Sophie recreated an iconic 1949 photo of the previous duke and duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony of Villa Guardamangia,