The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo had been ruled by Phoenician, Byzantine and Roman aristocrats, before passing to various European monarchies and eventually a republican government. Foreign monarchical rule over Malta lasted a total of 874 years. The Crown of Malta was patriated from that of the British for the first time in 1964 with the achievement of independence and abolished in 1974 with the establishment of the Republic of Malta.
The history, languages and culture of Malta and Sicily share many key events, including occupation by the Fatimids and an invasion by Roger I of Sicily in 1091. The islands parted ways in a decisive and permanent manner in 1799, when Malta became a British Crown colony. British colonial rule over Malta lasted 165 years. For an additional 10 years, Malta retained the British monarch as its independent head of state. Malta adopted a republican constitution on 13 December 1974, ending the monarchy altogether, and joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.
From the years 1090 and 1530, the Maltese Islands were a non-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Sicily and thus had the same sovereign. At this time the Nobility of Malta resided in or around Mdina. A strong cultural (and, to a lesser extent, political) connection to Sicily survived from 1530 to 1798 throughout the 268-year rule over Malta by the Knights Hospitaller.
In terms of the regional divisions of the islands, Malta Island was part the Valle di Mazzara province, Gozo was part of the Valle di Demona province and Comino was part of the Valle di Noto province.
Although the Knights Hospitaller ruled Malta as sovereign princes, they held that privilege as a fiefdom, paying a tribute of the Maltese Falcon annually to the Viceroys of Sicily, payable on the feast of All Souls' Day.
|- | George III<br>1799âÂÂ1820 || || 4 June 1738<br>Norfolk House<br>son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha || Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz<br>St James's Palace<br>8 September 1761<br>15 children || 29 January 1820<br>Windsor Castle<br>aged 81 |- | George IV<br>29 January<br>1820âÂÂ1830 || || 12 August 1762<br>St James's Palace<br>son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz || (2) Caroline of Brunswick<br>St James's Palace<br>8 April 1795<br>1 daughter || 26 June 1830<br>Windsor<br>aged 67 |- | William IV<br>26 June<br>1830âÂÂ1837 || || 21 August 1765<br>Buckingham Palace<br>son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz || Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen<br>Kew Palace<br>13 July 1818<br>2 children || 20 June 1837<br>Windsor Castle<br>aged 71 |- | Victoria<br>20 June<br>1837âÂÂ1901 || || 24 May 1819<br>Kensington Palace<br>daughter of Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld || Albert, Prince Consort<br>St James's Palace<br>10 February 1840<br>9 children || 22 January 1901<br>Osbourne House<br>aged 81
| Edward VII<br>22 January<br>1901âÂÂ1910 || || 9 November 1841<br>Buckingham Palace<br>son of Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort || Alexandra of Denmark<br>Windsor Castle<br>10 March 1863<br>6 children || 6 May 1910<br>Buckingham Palace<br>aged 68
The house name Windsor was adopted in 1917, during the First World War. It was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha because of wartime anti-German sentiment. The heirs of Elizabeth II, by royal proclamation, will remain part of the House of Windsor (even though their legal surname is Mountbatten-Windsor).
| George V<br>6 May<br>1910âÂÂ1936 || || 3 June 1865<br>Marlborough House<br>son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark || Mary of Teck<br>6 July 1893<br>St James's Palace<br>6 children || 20 January 1936<br>Sandringham House<br>aged 70 |- | Edward VIII<br>20 January âÂÂ<br>11 December 1936 || || 23 June 1894<br>Richmond<br>son of George V and Mary of Teck || Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor<br>France<br>3 June 1937<br>no children || 28 May 1972<br>Paris<br>aged 77 |- | George VI<br>11 December<br>1936âÂÂ6 February<br>1952 || || 14 December 1895<br>Sandringham House<br>son of George V and Mary of Teck || Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon<br>Westminster Abbey<br>26 April 1923<br>2 children || 6 February 1952<br>Sandringham House<br>aged 56 |- | Elizabeth II<br>6 February<br>1952âÂÂ1964 || || 21 April 1926<br>Mayfair<br>daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon || Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh<br>Westminster Abbey<br>20 November 1947<br>4 children || 8 September 2022 Balmoral Castle aged 96
| Elizabeth II<br>Queen of Malta (Reáina ta' Malta)<br>1964âÂÂ1974<br>(Monarchy abolished on 13 December 1974) || || 21 April 1926<br>Mayfair<br>daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon || Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh<br>Westminster Abbey<br>20 November 1947<br>4 children || 8 September 2022 Balmoral Castle aged 96
When Malta acquired independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1964, Elizabeth II became the head of state and Queen of Malta. On 13 December 1974, Malta became a republic, abolishing the monarchy and establishing the President of Malta as the nation's head of state.