Three images among the thousands former Times of Malta photographer Frank Attard took in his long and illustrious career recount salient episodes in Malta’s colonial, maritime and political history. In 1949, he took a picture of then Princess Elizabeth sitting on a bench with Prince Philip standing behind her in what was then their home away from home, Villa Guardamangia. In the UK, the image caused a furore as the media interpreted the prince’s extended index and middle fingers as indicating they were expecting their second child, which they were. But it also illustrates the happy and lasting bond between the two countries and their people. Throughout her long life and reign, Malta remained to Elizabeth II the “isle of happy memories” and to the Maltese, she was ‘the Queen’. That picture, and the many others Attard took during the late queen’s six visits to Malta, record a salient part of the island’s history like no words can. “I lost count. I have no idea how many I have... most likely, I have hundreds,” he answered when asked how many photographs he has of Queen Elizabeth II. Sifting through those images may well add colourful and significant, hitherto unrecorded, episodes...