Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in good spirits on Wednesday as they took a tour of a villa that was once the residence of the Queen and Prince Phillip, during their trip to Malta. 

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh smiled animatedly as they were accompanied by representatives from Heritage Malta on a tour around Villa Guardamangia - in Pieta, Malta on the third day of their visit to the island.

The four-day visit marks the 60th anniversary of Malta's independence and celebrates the country's shared heritage and continuing collaboration with the UK. 

The Maltese villa holds special significance for the Royal Family as it was where the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip lived between 1949 and 1951, while the prince was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer.

The couple chatted with representatives from Heritage Malta, who explained what work was being done to restore the historic royal abode - currently in disarray - to its former glory. 

Duchess Sophie, 59, looked radiant in a floor length white chiffon gown, which was patterned with bright red poppies.

She accessorised the outfit with a beige belt pulled in at the waist and a tan coloured clutch bag.

The duchess wore her bright blond hair down at her shoulders, with a half up do pulling the front of her tresses out of her face.

Sophie carried a pair of stylish looking sunglasses in one hand, offering her protection from the bright Maltese sun.

The duchess styled the chic summery outfit with a pair of white heeled sandals.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward looked dashing in a double breasted grey suit and a magenta tie to match the poppies flowing from Sophie's skirt.

Edward and Sophie strolled the grounds of the impressive abode, stopping to pose for a picture of the balcony where the late Queen and Phillip were pictured 70 years ago.

The tour marks a highlight in the royal's Maltese trip, as the Villa Guardamangia, was the former residence of the late Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, when they were a young married couple. 

They lived there between 1949 and 1951 while the prince was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer, and they returned to the villa to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007. 

During their visit, the Edinburghs met Elizabeth Pule whose mother, Jessie, was a housekeeper when the late Queen and Philip lived in the villa.

Prior to the visit, Cathy Ward, the UK High Commissioner to Malta, wrote on social media: 'Delighted to welcome TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to #Malta! 

'This visit underscores the deep bilateral ties & shared connection between our two nations. Looking forward to helping build the next chapter of friendship & cooperation.'

The couple touched down in the European nation on Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the island's independence.

On their first day, they met with President Myriam Spiteri Debono and her husband Dr. Anthony Spiteri Debono at Grandmaster's Palace in St George's Square, Valletta. 

Later, the pair headed to Auberge de Castille to meet Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife, Lydia Abela, before attending a reception at the residence of the British High Commissioner.

On Tuesday, the duke and duchess embarked on a historical tour of the Grand Harbour's key Second World War sites and meet veterans.

The couple sailed through the harbour in Valletta before being invited to throw a wreath and posy into the water to commemorate the British and Maltese troops who died during the Second World War. 

Accompanied by the armed forces, the duke and duchess had the opportunity to take in the glorious surroundings of the Maltese harbour, with its lemon yellow building and blue waters.

They also opened a new monument, the Submariners' Walkway, to submariners who died in the war.

Veterans who had been invited for the ceremony clapped as the prince cut the ribbon to open the new walk way.

They also visited the National War Museum, walking past a plaque where the late Queen Elizabeth II  'took the salute of the Mediterranean fleet before entering the harbour' in 1950. 

On Wednesday, after their visit to Villa Guardamangia to hear about restoration work taking place, Edward and Sophie are due to view artefacts linked to UK-Malta relations, including a letter from the late Queen inaugurating the island's first parliament.

The duchess will go on to take part in a panel discussion with the Malta Police Force about how to improve its approach to supporting victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking.

She will also lay a posy in memory of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in 2017 while investigating suspected corruption among high-level political and business circles in the Mediterranean nation.

The duke and duchess will also attend the King's Birthday Reception, hosted by the British High Commissioner, and meet young people from across the country.

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, first visited Malta in 1969 and visited again in 2015 with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Camilla to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Valetta.

The King's most recent visit to Malta was in 2017 to mark the 75th anniversary of the island being awarded the George Cross.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh last visited Malta together in November 2012, as the Earl and Countess of Wessex, with Sophie returning to Malta in 2018.