The Grand Ballroom and the Queen
May 21, 2026
The story of one ballroom, three royal moments and a new biography of Elizabeth II launching in Malta this May.
In 1949, a young woman in her early twenties came to live in Malta. Heir to the British throne, her time on the island represented a rare window in which she could live simply as a naval wife, while her lieutenant husband served with the Mediterranean Fleet.
The smartest venue on the island, open for two years, was The Phoenicia Malta. Princess Elizabeth danced in our Grand Ballroom – but this would not be the last time it would host royalty.
Few venues anywhere have stayed tied to a single monarch over so many decades. And in late May 2026, The Phoenicia Malta honours the late Queen once again, hosting the Malta launch of Robert Hardman’s new biography, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story.
When royalty came to dance
Princess Elizabeth’s months in Malta came at one of the few moments in her life when ordinary living was still possible.
Prince Philip was a serving lieutenant with the Mediterranean Fleet and she joined him on the island as his wife, not yet his Queen. By accounts she would later share, her life in Malta gave her a freedom she would rarely know again. She drove herself around the island, shopped at local markets – and she went dancing.
The Grand Ballroom at The Phoenicia Malta was almost new, with Maltese limestone walls, marble floors and the proportions of a room William Binnie had designed for state occasions.
For that evening at least, Princess Elizabeth was a young woman at a ball on the arm of her husband – before the demands of the Crown soon made that kind of evening near-impossible.
Dancing was not the only reason she visited The Phoenicia Malta. Local memory has her here often during those Malta years – a familiar sight at the hotel, taking afternoon tea with her husband. Indeed, the Floriana-based carpenter who later crafted the doors to Contessa recalled seeing them together regularly, while others remember her wearing a Maltese għonnella down by the harbour to watch the fishermen unobserved.
The night Malta became its own
Fifteen years later, on the eve of Malta’s independence, the Grand Ballroom hosted the official banquet. A four-course dinner welcomed the Duke of Edinburgh and the founding figures of the new nation. By midnight on 21 September 1964, Malta was no longer a colony.
For the 60th anniversary of independence in 2024, we recreated that exact dinner for Malta’s President and senior dignitaries, in collaboration with Heritage Malta. The evening held the same menu, the same ballroom, the same closing toast and sense of ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth’s return
By 2005, more than half a century had passed since Princess Elizabeth had last danced in the Grand Ballroom. In November she returned, this time as Queen, to host the CHOGM Malta 2005 state reception in the very same room.
More than 53 years into her reign, much had changed in the intervening decades. The proportions of the room, where she once danced as a newlywed, had not.
The royal biographer at The Phoenicia Malta
Robert Hardman is, by common consent, the most authoritative living biographer of the British Royal Family.
As an award-winning journalist, a member of the BBC commentary team at every major state occasion in recent decades and the only biographer to have interviewed every senior royal – several of them many times – he is the natural choice to write the major new portrait of the late Queen, published in her centenary year.
In late May 2026, in coordination with the British High Commission and the US Embassy, Hardman brings Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story to Malta. The recently released book draws on his unique access to the late Queen’s world, including family, staff, advisers and even the last state visitor of her record-breaking reign, US President Donald Trump.
The launch brings Queen Elizabeth II’s connection with the hotel – and Malta – full circle.
Ready to stay where Maltese history is made?
From a royal newlywed in 1949 to a royal biographer in 2026, The Phoenicia Malta continues to host the moments that shape Maltese public life – with the Grand Ballroom at the heart of that story.
Hosting weddings, gala dinners, charity events, cultural launches and private celebrations, the Grand Ballroom remains the home of memories in the making. Hotel guests are welcome to step inside whenever the room is open between bookings, while a private viewing can be arranged through the concierge upon request.
Our team will gladly help you plan your stay around the season’s events – or discuss hosting your own occasion in the Grand Ballroom.
Book your stay or find out more about events and celebrations at The Phoenicia Malta at phoeniciamalta.com/events-celebrations/.
Christine Darmanin
PR & Marketing Manager
Christine Darmanin is the PR & Marketing Manager at The Phoenicia Malta, where she leads the hotel’s communications, brand positioning, partnerships, and storytelling initiatives. With extensive experience in destination and luxury hospitality marketing, Christine plays a key role in shaping the hotel’s public profile both locally and internationally, while highlighting its rich history, cultural significance, and ongoing evolution.
For press enquiries or collaboration requests, connect with Christine at [email protected]
FAQ: The Grand Ballroom and Queen Elizabeth II – your questions answered
Did Queen Elizabeth II visit The Phoenicia Malta?
Yes. Princess Elizabeth danced in The Phoenicia Malta’s Grand Ballroom in 1949, when she was living in Malta as a young naval wife during Prince Philip’s posting with the Mediterranean Fleet. Local oral history also places her at the hotel often during those Malta years, taking afternoon tea with the Duke of Edinburgh. She returned to the hotel as Queen Elizabeth II in November 2005 to host a state reception in the same Grand Ballroom.
What is the history of the Grand Ballroom at The Phoenicia Malta?
The Grand Ballroom was designed by Scottish architect William Binnie in Art Deco lines of Maltese limestone and opened with the rest of the hotel in 1947, as part of Malta’s first five-star hotel. It hosted Princess Elizabeth as a newlywed in 1949, the official Independence Eve State Banquet attended by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1964 and a state reception by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005. In 2024, the hotel recreated the original 1964 menu for the 60th anniversary of Maltese independence.
Can you hold a wedding or private event in the Grand Ballroom?
Yes. The Grand Ballroom remains in regular use as one of The Phoenicia Malta’s flagship event venues, hosting weddings, gala dinners, cultural launches and private celebrations throughout the year. Enquiries can be made through our dedicated events team.
