The Office of the President seems to have been unaware that the gift presented by Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca to Queen Elizabeth last Thursday was similar to one presented to the British monarch two years ago by Malta’s High Commissioner in London, Norman Hamilton.

Following her arrival in Malta the Queen was given a watercolour painting of Villa Guardamangia where the royal couple lived between 1949 and 1951.

However, it seems that the gift was overlooked during the customary pre-State visit advance party discussions, as similar painting had been presented to the Queen in 2013. During the presentation of his credentials at Buckingham Palace, Mr Hamilton had presented the Queen with the watercolour painting by artist John Martin Borg. She had remarked that the painting rekindled some of her fondest youthful memories and expressed the wish to see the property again if she made another visit to Malta.

However, though another visit to the dilapidated villa did not prove possible, the Queen received another painting of the house from Malta’s President.

Sources at Office of the President played down the mishap and said that this was “an oversight” due to the many details involved in preparing for such a high profile State visit.

Sources said the British High Commission in Malta should have flagged the issue before the visit.

However, Foreign Ministry sources blamed the government’s protocol service.

“It is probably the lack of experience of government officials entrusted with protocol,” the sources said.

Asked whether the British High Commission had informed the Maltese government that the Queen had already received such a gift, a spokesman said: “Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were delighted to receive the painting of Villa Guardamangia from the President.”

The Office of the President did not reply to questions.