Villa Guardamangia Explained

Villa Guardamangia
Coordinates:35.8923°N 14.4951°W
Former Names:Casa Medina
Alternate Names:Casa Guardamangia
Status:Intact
Building Type:Villa
Architectural Style:Vernacular and Neoclassical
Location:Gwardamanġa, Pietà, Malta
Completion Date:Mid-18th century
Owner:Government of Malta
Material:Limestone

Villa Guardamangia (Italian – 'look' and 'eat'), formerly known as Casa Medina[1] [2] and sometimes referred to as Casa Guardamangia,[3] is a 16791square feet townhouse in Gwardamanġa, Pietà, Malta, which served as the residence of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II), and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1949 and 1951, while Philip was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer.

History

The property belonged to a Catholic priest in around 1814, during the start of the British colonization of Malta. It is believed that the seaside property was built around the mid-18th century. Later in the 20th century it belonged to several prominent Maltese families, which included the Sant Fourniers, Bartolos and Schembris.[4] The building took much of its present form in 1900[5] [6] [7] by Sir Augusto Bartolo[8] and was called Casa Medina.[9] It was originally a farmhouse.[10] It consists of 18 rooms in the living quarters, stables for the animals, a large garden area with a walk-path and a war shelter.[11]

Around 1929, the villa was first leased to Louis Mountbatten, who had interest in it because of its proximity to Marsa, which has a horse racing track and a golf course that suited his lavish lifestyle. The villa was in a bad state and divided into apartments,[1] leading the Mountbattens to reside in two rooms at the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana[1] while the house was being renovated. Mountbatten bought the villa after some time[12] and frequented it while stationed in Malta as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in the 1950s.[13]

When the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh came to Malta at first they lodged at San Anton Palace, hosted by Gerald Strickland and his wife.[14] Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and her then-fiancé, Philip Mountbatten (later Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh), first stayed at Guardamangia in 1946.[15] The couple returned a number of times between then and 1952, while Philip was stationed in Malta as a Royal Navy officer[16] and Elizabeth worked with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) at Auberge de Castile. Mountbatten eventually passed the villa to the royal couple[17] and they resided there continuously between 1949 and 1951. It has been suggested that their eldest child, King Charles III, was conceived at the villa.[16] The Queen later described her stay in Malta as one of the best periods of her life, as it was the only time she was able to live "normally".[18]

Queen Elizabeth II visited Villa Guardamangia during her state visit to Malta in 1992 and, in 2007, she and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 60th anniversary there.[19] The Queen was given a painting of Villa Guardamangia by the Maltese High Commissioner in London, Norman Hamilton, in 2013.[20] When the Queen was in Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015, she asked to see the villa, but was reportedly refused by its owners,[16] the family of Ġużè Schembri,[2] as it was in a poor state of repair and subject of a dispute between its owners and the government. President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca presented the Queen with another painting of the villa's façade.[21]

The building was put up for sale in 2019 with an asking price at €5.9 million.[22] [23] Much of the building's contents, including furniture, artwork and antiques, were sold at auction in September 2019.[24] Following a campaign for the building to be restored and opened to the public,[25] it was acquired by the Government of Malta in October 2019 and entrusted to Heritage Malta for extensive restoration works.

Building and gardens

The villa is found just outside the outskirts[26] and suburb[27] of Valletta in the hamlet of Guardamangia[28] set just at the crest[29] in a quiet residential area[30] in a narrow street.[31] The villa is described as built in the form of a palace complemented with sea views over Marsamxett Harbour. The Queen describes it as a "town house". It is a typical traditional Maltese residence.[8] The building is built with limestone, known as sandstone and described by the Queen as "yellow stone", and designed with spacious interiors.[32] The house has two entrances with one set at street level and another set after going up a flight of stairs under an elaborate front porch. The royal family had taken their own personal belongings from Britain when they lived at the villa[33] allowing them to live in a lavish residence,[34] in a once-elegant home.[27] The royal family had British servants at the villa.[35]

The gardens of the villa are secluded.[36] The Queen has described it simply as the "small garden at Villa Guardamangia". The Queen herself had decorated the gardens and the surroundings according to her tastes and lifestyle, however most garden-related work was done by a gardener.[37] The main outdoor feature in the garden is the long terrace taking from the building of the villa to the other side of the garden. In the middle of the terrace is where a bench stood that is the place where most known published photos of the royal couple and guests were taken.[38] Other photos were taken on the roof terrace of the villa,[13] while some were taken by the press back then at the front of the villa while the couple walked in on the flight of stairs.[39] The garden had a function to entertain and also to cultivate flowers, which Prince Philip enjoyed to have in his cabin and wardroom.[37]

Current

The building is scheduled as a Grade 2 monument by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and it is in a dilapidated state.[40] The NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has called for its restoration and the government was then in process to expropriate and restore the villa,[41] accusing its then owners of allowing the villa to deteriorate in order to justify demolishing it so that the site can be sold and redeveloped.[42]

Villa Guardamangia is a potential tourist attraction once restored. In a non-scientific 2015 online poll, 84% of respondents stated that they would visit the villa if it were restored and opened to the public.[43] [44] The villa is a common landmark associated with the royal family.[45] The Daily Telegraph has mistakenly portrayed the front façade of Villa Luginsland in Rabat as the back of Villa Guardamangia.[42]

Villa Guardamangia was privately owned by Marika Schembri and her siblings.[46] In June 2019, the Villa was put up for sale for €6 million (£5.3 million).[47] However, it was bought for €5 million.[48] Since October 2019, the villa has belonged to the Government of Malta.[49] [50] As of June 2020, Heritage Malta (the national agency for cultural heritage) is conducting extensive restoration works on the villa. The British Royal Family will be invited for the villa's reopening.[51]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Connell, Brian . Manifest Destiny: A Study in Five Profiles of the Rise and Influence of the Mountbatten Family . 1953 . Cassell.
  2. Book: Guillaumier . Alfie . Bliet u Rħula Maltin . 1987 . Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. . . 268 . mt.
  3. News: De Marco . Mario . Mario de Marco . Sharing some palatial thoughts . . 2 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126110036/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150502/opinion/sharing-some-palatial-thoughts.566404 . 26 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Watch: Finding the missing pieces of the Queen's residence in Guardamangia. 25 December 2020 .
  5. Web site: Scheduled Property - Gwardamanġa . . February 14, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927072717/http://www.mepa.org.mt/npi/pieta/pieta_se/listed/101.htm . September 27, 2007.
  6. Web site: Gwardamangia . Grech Claudio . mt . December 1, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208083937/http://www.grechclaudio.com/kampanja-elettorali/l-ewwel-distrett/gwardamangia . December 8, 2015.
  7. News: Martin . Ivan . Queen Elizabeth's Malta home in disrepair and must be restored before the royal visit . Times of Malta . April 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126212359/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150426/local/queen-elizabeths-malta-home-in-disrepair-and-must-be-restored-before.565512 . November 26, 2015.
  8. Villa Guardamangia . The Crown Colonist . 1950 . 20 . 455.
  9. Book: Hatch, Alden . Alden Hatch . The Mountbattens . 1966 . W.H. Allen . 208.
  10. Book: Christopher, Peter H. . 2017 . The Spanish Knight's Secret . . 61 . 978-1-4602-9709-4.
  11. Web site: Glimpse of a villa's glorious past. 12 August 2020 .
  12. News: Maltese seaman who survived sinking of Mountbatten's ship . Alfred Conti . Borda . December 16, 2012 . Times of Malta . 1 January 2018.
  13. Web site: The Malta home of TRH's The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Villa Guardamangia, Pieta during the 1949 to 1951 period . godfreydykes.info . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126112322/http://www.godfreydykes.info/villa_guardamangia.html . 26 November 2015.
  14. News: Queen Elizabeth's stays in Malta over the years . Michael . Galea . November 15, 2015 . Times of Malta . 1 January 2018.
  15. Book: Dexter, Margaret . Malta Remembered . 13 March 2009 . iUniverse . 978-0-595-89670-7 . 11.
  16. News: Alexander . Adam . Row in Malta over Queen's crumbling former home . . 30 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151115123341/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/malta/11572954/Row-in-Malta-over-Queens-crumbling-former-home.html . 15 November 2015.
  17. Book: Morrow, Ann . The Queen . registration . 1 August 1983 . W. Morrow . 978-0-688-02136-8.
  18. News: Castillo . Ruth . "They were proud that she lived here!" – G'Mangia residents on the Queen . . 26 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126214748/http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/they-were-proud-that-she-lived-here-gmangia-residents-on-the-queen/ . 26 November 2015.
  19. News: 'It looks rather sad now': Queen's forlorn response on villa where she once lived . 28 November 2015 . . 1 January 2018.
  20. Web site: Guardamangia...ghal darba darbtejn! . Net News . 28 November 2015 . mt.
  21. News: Painting of Villa Guardamangia presented to the Queen . Times of Malta . 26 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126185550/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151126/local/painting-of-villa-guardamangia-presented-to-the-queen.593619 . 26 November 2015.
  22. Web site: Historic potential of Queen's old home . Timesofmalta.com . 1940-08-22 . 2019-10-23.
  23. Web site: Malta palazzo that served as Queen Elizabeth's home on sale for €6 million. MaltaToday.com.mt. 11 June 2019. 18 April 2021.
  24. News: Contents of Queen's Malta home to be sold at auction. Times of Malta. 11 September 2019. 18 April 2021.
  25. News: Historic potential of Queen's old home. Times of Malta. 22 June 2019. 18 April 2021.
  26. Book: Campbell, Judith . Elizabeth and Philip . 14 September 1972 . Barker . 61. 9780213164065 .
  27. Web site: A legacy of fry-ups and red postboxes . 29 November 2015 . BBC News . 1 January 2018.
  28. Book: DrGoogelberg . English Princesses . 2012 . . 978-1-291-07969-2. 172.
  29. Web site: Apartments For Sale . Pieta Apartments . 2015-12-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208101723/http://www.pieta-apartments.com/#!explore-hotel/c1nt3 . 2015-12-08 . dead .
  30. News: Malta: Explore this distinctly British isle's regal heritage . Juliet . Rix . November 20, 2015 . . 1 January 2018.
  31. Book: Cathcart, Helen . The Queen Herself . 5 February 1982 . W.H. Allen . 978-0-491-02755-7 . 125.
  32. Bedell Smith . Sally . December 14, 2011 . Love and Majesty . Vanity Fair.
  33. Book: Fisher, Graham . The Queen's Family . 1982 . W.H. Allen . 978-0-491-02867-7.
  34. Book: Higham . Charles . Moseley . Roy . Elizabeth and Philip: The Untold Story of the Queen of England and her Prince . registration . March 1993 . Berkley Books . 978-0-425-13757-4.
  35. Book: The Malta Year Book . 1968 . St. Michael's College Publications.
  36. Book: Holden, Anthony . Charles, Prince of Wales . 1980 . Pan . 978-0-330-26167-8 . 73.
  37. Book: Dean, John . H. R. H. Price Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: A Portrait . 1954 . R. Hale.
  38. Book: Flamini, Roland . Sovereign: Elizabeth II and the Windsor Dynasty . 4 July 1992 . Random House Publishing Group . 978-0-440-21190-7 . 114.
  39. Web site: Returning to Villa Guardamangia after State Drive [Royal Visit to Malta, 1949] ]. British Monarchy . . 2015-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208144850/https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishmonarchy/15091692269 . 2015-12-08 . dead .
  40. News: Development Planning Act, 1992 (Section 46) – Scheduling of Property . Malta Government Gazette . 20 April 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126112453/http://www.mepa.org.mt/lpgdocuments/GNs/gn349_01.pdf . 26 November 2015 . 4036.
  41. News: Martin . Ivan . Appeal for Queen Elizabeth's former home to be restored . Times of Malta . 25 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150818172722/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150425/local/updated-appeal-for-queen-elizabeths-former-home-to-be-restored.565455 . 18 August 2015.
  42. News: Row in Malta over Queen's crumbling former home . 29 November 2015 . The Daily Telegraph . 30 April 2015.
  43. News: Telegraph runs poll asking people if they would visit the Queen's old home in Malta if restored . . 1 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150806145438/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-05-01/local-news/Telegraph-runs-poll-asking-people-if-they-would-visit-the-Queen-s-old-home-in-Malta-if-restored-6736134780 . 6 August 2015.
  44. News: James . Roxanne . Restoration Row over Queen's Former Home in Malta . Propertyshowrooms.com . 20 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150525075611/http://www.propertyshowrooms.com/malta/property/news/restoration-row-over-queen-s-former-home-malta_313417.html . 25 May 2015.
  45. Book: Matthews, Jodie . Islands and Britishness: A Global Perspective . 15 November 2011 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 978-1-4438-3543-5 . 62.
  46. News: Rayner . Gordon . Queen makes emotional visit to Malta for what may be her last Commonwealth summit . The Daily Telegraph . 25 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126011050/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/12012163/Queen-makes-emotional-visit-to-Malta-for-what-may-be-her-last-Commonwealth-summit.html . 26 November 2015.
  47. News: Queen's former Malta home Villa Guardamangia on sale. BBC News. 11 June 2019. 11 June 2019.
  48. Web site: UK royal family to be invited for reopening of Queen's former home. 5 June 2020 .
  49. News: Queen's former Malta home to be restored after being bought by government . Times of Malta. 22 October 2019. 18 April 2021.
  50. Web site: Il-PM ħabbar li l-Gvern xtara l-unika dar li kienet tgħix fiha r-Reġina barra r-Renju Unit – One News . One.com.mt . 2019-10-22 . 2019-10-23.
  51. News: UK royal family to be invited for reopening of Queen's former home. Times of Malta. 5 June 2020. 18 April 2021.

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