Last updated 4 pm - Queen Elizabeth II has arrived in Malta for a three-day state visit and the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
The Queen and Prince Philip arrived on a chartered A320 aircraft with the royal standard fluttering from the cockpit. They arrived a few minutes after the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived on a separate aircraft.
The Queen, 89 and Prince Philip, five years older, came down the aircraft steps unaided and were welcomed by, among others, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Mrs Muscat and the British High Commissioner, Rob Luke.
The Queen looked radiant as the prime minister's daughters presented her with bouquets.
The Queen and Prince Philip immediately boarded a black Austin Princess car which conveyed them to San Anton Palace, where a brief ceremonial welcome was held. A small number of people waited outside San Anton and applauded as the car and the police outriders drove by.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Mr Preca greeted the royal couple and a bouquet was presented to Her Majesty by Olivia Bonnett from the Special Olympics team.
The Queen and Prince Philip were introduced to the Speaker, the Archbishop, ministers and other officials.
The Queen was then escorted to a dais for the salute, while Prince Philip appeared to be reminiscing about San Anton with Mr Preca.
The Queen and the President inspected the Guard of Honour while the AFM Band appropriately played "Thanks for the memory". The Guard had formed up in heavy rain, but the rain petered out by the time the Queen arrived.
This is Elizabeth's fourth visit to Malta at Queen, the last being in 2007 when the royal couple stopped over to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary while on their way to the CHOGM in Uganda.
Later this afternoon the Queen formally received Dr Muscat for talks at San Anton Palace.
The Office of the Prime Minister said Dr Muscat briefed the Queen on the new medical school in Gozo, a project of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
He was accompanied by Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Dean of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry Prof. Anthony Warrens.
The Queen will this evening also attend a state reception in her honour hosted by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, at San Anton.
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta
Photo: National Archives, Malta