Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh lay wreath at sea to honour Malta's WW2 defenders

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh commemorated Maltese lives lost during the Second World War by laying a wreath at sea.

The Royal couple have been in Malta to mark the 60th anniversary of the country's independence, while also celebrating its shared heritage with the UK.

At Fort St Elmo, they inaugurated a new submariners' walkway, meeting descendants of the crews lost and, at sea in the Grand Harbour, they laid wreaths to commemorate the Maltese and British fallen.

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During their time in Malta, the Duke and Duchess also visited the Malta Maritime Museum where they heard from Armed Forces personnel and members of the Maltese-UK Veterans' Association. 

Later, the Duke joined young people participating in The Duke of Edinburgh International Award and formally opened the organisation's new headquarters.

At the National Library, the Duke and Duchess are due to view artefacts which document Malta's changing relationship with the UK, including a letter signed by Queen Elizabeth II inaugurating the first parliament in 1964.

The Duchess will lay a posy in memory of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, known for her outspoken investigative skills and courageous blog account.

She will then attend a discussion with members of Malta's Police Force and Human Rights Directorate about supporting victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence.