Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria stands as a marble statue in Republic Square, dressed in a traditional Maltese lace shawl and positioned on a decorated pedestal. The memorial sits directly in front of the National Library in the heart of Valletta.

Giuseppe Valente sculpted this memorial in 1891 to honor Queen Victoria's fifty years on the British throne. The statue was created during a period when Malta was under British rule, making such monuments symbols of the political bond.

The location in Republic Square, called Pjazza Regina locally, shows how deeply the British monarchy was woven into daily Maltese life during the colonial years. The memorial stands as a place where residents and visitors encounter this shared historical chapter.

The memorial sits right in front of the National Library and serves as an easy reference point while walking through Valletta's historic center. From this location, you can easily reach surrounding streets and squares leading to other important sites.

The entire funding for this memorial came from public donations by citizens who wanted to show their connection to the British monarchy. This grassroots support reveals how personal the historical relationship was for the local population.