Prince of Wales to attend George Cross ceremony

The Prince of Wales will today start a two-day visit in Malta, during which he will take part in tonight’s 75th George Cross anniversary ceremony and address the ‘Our Ocean conference.’

Prince Charles is the President of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.

Britain’s King George VII awarded the George Cross to Malta on 15 April 1942. A public award ceremony in Valletta was held on 13 September 1942, after the arrival of the so-called Santa Maria Convoy. The George Cross – the UK’s highest civilian decoration for bravery – then became part of the national flag.

The Prince of Wales will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The Prince of Wales, who has for a long time been a champion for the health and resilience of the ocean, made his first speech on the environment in December 1968 and has long warned of the irreversible effects of climate change. He has worked hand in hand with enterprise, charities and governments to promote sustainable living and work.

The Our Ocean conference series was initiated by the US Department of State, spearheaded by former US Secretary of State John Kerry.

During his visit, the Price will visit St Paul’s Anglican procathedral in Valletta to see the ongoing €3 million restoration project. The Prince is the Patron of the Friends of the Cathedral.

His programme also includes a meeting with participants of Prince’s Trust International, a visit to Nature Trust Malta and a visit to the Hagar Qim temples.

The Prince’s first visit to Malta was as a child in 1954. He then visited in 1968 and 1969. His most recent visit to Malta was in November 2015 where he and the Duchess of Cornwall accompanied the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.