- .Duke of Cambridge met with President of Malta, Marie Louise Colerio Preca, at official residence - San Anton Palace
- .He is representing Queen at official celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of independence from Great Britain
- .His wife, Kate, 32, who is eight weeks pregnant with second child was forced to pull out due to ante-natal sickness
- .The Mediterranean island holds a special place in Queen's heart after she spent months living there as newly-wed
- .William will view historical, colourful re-enactment of inspection of the fort and garrison by Grand Bailiff of the Order
- .He will also be attending a service at Malta's St John's Cathedral as well as taking a boat tour of its Grand Harbour
Prince William has been a huge hit with the crowds in Malta as he stands in for his pregnant wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, on whirlwind two-day tour of Malta after pulled out due to severe morning sickness.
Bathed in glorious sunshine, the second in line to the throne this afternoon met with the Mediterranean island's president, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, at her official residence, the San Anton Palace.
William, 32, is representing the Queen at official celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's independence from Great Britain.
Prince William shakes hands with members of the crowd in Malta as part of his whirlwind two-day tour after his pregnant wife was forced to pull out of the trip
Several people made their way to St George's Square in Valletta, Malta, to get a chance to meet the Duke of Cambridge who visited earlier this afternoon
He reaches across the crowd to shake hands with people who turned out as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Malta's independence
The island holds a special place in the monarch's heart. As a young newly-wed she spent many happy, carefree months on Malta when her husband, Prince Philip was stationed there with the Royal Navy.
Kate, 32, who is around eight weeks pregnant with her second child, is still suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe ante-natal sickness that can leave sufferers vomiting up to 30 times a day.
The Duchess, who has a one-year-old son, Prince George, had been so keen to meet her engagements that she left it until Wednesday night to consult with doctors.
The Duke of Cambridge is pictured planting a tree in the San Anton Palace Gardens as part of a tradition during his whirlwind tour of Malta earlier today
The Duke of Cambridge walks with the President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca in the grounds of San Anton Palace in Malta after his wife was unable to make trip
The Duke of Cambridge is pictured with the President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (right) at her official residence - the historic San Anton Palace
But after meeting with Alan Farthing, Surgeon-Gynaecologist to the Royal Household, and her obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston at Kensington Palace she reluctantly agreed to cancel the trip.
Although she is said to be feeling slightly better, it was feared that a packed diary, which would have seen her conduct ten public engagements in 30C heat, could have exacerbated her condition.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said on Thursday: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge will no longer visit Malta this weekend. The Duke of Cambridge will undertake the visit instead.
'Her Royal Highness continues to suffer from the effects of Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Traditionally dressed Maltese await the arrival of Prince William in the streets of Valetta during his official visit to celebrate 50 years of independence from Great Britain
They performed the official reception in traditional clothing in St George's Square in Valetta for the Prince who is visiting the island to represent the Queen
His wife, who is eight weeks pregnant with second child was forced to pull out of her first solo overseas engagement in Malta due to morning sickness
The men re-enact the regular inspection of the fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John in charge of military affairs. During the re-enactment the fort's garrison (some 70 in all), dressed in all its pomp, show off a range of military drills from the era
The historical event takes place every Sunday in the square almost all year round and lasts 45 minutes but was put on especially for Prince William today
'The decision not to travel was taken by the Duke and Duchess on the advice of the Duchess's doctors.
‘The Duke is honoured to represent Her Majesty The Queen on the visit, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Malta's Independence.
‘The visit itinerary remains unchanged.’
Prince William waves to the crowd as he arrives at St George's Square in Valletta for the official reception after arriving on the Mediterranean island earlier this afternoon
The Duke of Cambridge views a re-enactment of an historical event - the inspection of the fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John
William will be a guest of the President at the historic San Anton Palace, built in 1626 by a French knight, Antoine de Paule, who was elected the 54th Grand Master of the Order of St John and chose to build himself a lavish country seat in Attard.
The villa was built to extremely generous proportions in order to accommodate not only the knight and his guests but his huge team of staff, which included everyone from cooks and food tasters to torch bearers, wig makers and even his official winder of the clocks.
There was also a baker whose sole job was to make a special kind of black bread to feed his hunting dogs.
Surrounded by glorious gardens, the sprawling property has hosted everyone from Napoleon 1 to Queen Elizabeth, who most recently stayed there in 2007.
One of Queen Victoria's grand-daughters, Princess Victoria Melita, was also born in the palace.
Prince William will meet the President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, at her official residence, San Anton Palace (pictured), this afternoon
The San Anton Gardens (above), which have been open to the public since 1882, will be - as tradition dictates - where the Prince will plant a tree
The prince will enjoy a boat tour of the harbour, following a visit to St Lawrence Church, which can be seen in the background here. Finally he will attend a garden party at the High Commissioner’s residence, thus ending his whirlwind visit to Malta
William will view a colourful re-enactment of an historical event, the inspection of the fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John, as well as attending a service at Malta's St John's Cathedral and taking a boat tour of its Grand Harbour.
The pinnacle of his visit, however, will be official Independence Day Celebrations at the Upper Barrakka Gardens at which he will be guest of honour.
The Queen spent some of the happiest months of her life on Malta as a young newly-wed.
Although she and Prince Philip were accompanied to the island by a retinue which included an equerry, valet, lady-in-waiting and the Princess's childhood nanny, as well as their ever-present police bodyguards, the newly-weds were largely free to come and go as they pleased.
Prince William will the move on to St George’s Square in Valletta, where he will inspect the In Guardia - this is the main guard's building proudly flying national flags
Prince William will visit the National Library, which has popular cafes in Republic Square at is front, and shown historical documents marking major moments in Malta's past, including letters from King Henry VIII and George II and the original citation awarding the George Cross to the island for its collective heroism during World War II
For the future Queen, this was simply unheard of. There were parties, picnics, swimming expeditions and boat trips. The young princess even went out shopping and visits to the hairdressers with the other young officers' wives.
Philip, meanwhile, discovered a life-long love of polo. 'It was a fabulous time,' he later recalled.
The couple lived at Villa Guardamangia, an idyllic holiday home rented by Philip's uncle, Lord 'Dickie' Mountbatten.
The Duchess of Cambridge, who is eight weeks pregnant, was forced to pull out of her first solo overseas engagement after suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe ante-natal sickness that can leave sufferers vomiting up to 30 times a day. Her husband Prince William arrived on island this afternoon
During her stay in Malta the Queen left her first child, Prince Charles, back at Buckingham Palace with his nanny and grandparents, although she returned home for frequent visits.
Her daughter, Princess Anne, was conceived on the island, and although she went back to England for her birth in August 1950, the Queen returned to Malta several times afterwards.
In July 1951 she and Philip were forced to move back to Britain for good, however, when her father, King George V1, fell seriously ill - bringing to an end one of the most carefree periods of her life.
Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, and the Duke of Edinburgh view Valetta Harbour and part of the town from the roof of the Villa Guardamangia, Malta, in 1949
Princess Elizabeth addresses 2,500 men on parade as she presents the new Kings Colour to Malta in 1951. On her left is Admiral Sir John Edelsten, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station. She told the crowd her husband 'has had the honour to command one of his Majesty's ships in this fleet'
The Queen and her husband last visited Malta in 2007 to mark their diamond wedding anniversary.
Malta voluntarily became part of the British Empire in 1800 but achieved self-rule after the Second World War.
Following a constitutional referendum in 1964, the island became fully independent, retaining the Queen as its Head of State.
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