VALLETTA (AFP) ― Prince William was welcomed by cheering crowds in Malta on Saturday, where he took part in independence celebrations in place of his wife Kate, who is still suffering from acute morning sickness.

He stopped to shake hands and pose for selfies with hundreds of people lining the streets of the capital, many of whom bombarded him with questions over Kate’s health.

His first stop on the whirlwind two-day trip was to meet the Mediterranean island’s President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at the San Anton Palace in Balzan, where he was to spend the night.

Impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit and sky-blue tie, the prince was not worried about getting his hands dirty, grasping a shovel and planting a tree in the brilliant sunshine as part of a traditional ceremony in the palace gardens.

He was then whisked off to the island’s capital Valletta, where he met Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle and their twin daughters, seven-year-old Etoile and Soleil, who gave him a teddy bear for William’s son Prince George.

William later watched a historical military reenactment in Saint George’s square featuring traditional costumes in brilliant purples, reds and oranges, with pointed silver helmets, before visiting the National Library to look at historical documents relating to Malta’s independence.

“I remember 50 years ago, when I was small, my father brought us over for the celebrations. So that’s why today I’m here, to be part again of these celebrations,” Maltese local Mary Grace told AFP TV.

William’s visit attracted foreign tourists as well, many of whom had hoped to get a glimpse of his wife, who is pregnant with their second child and cancelled her engagement at the last minute on doctors’ advice.

“We are here for the Maltese independence, and to see William. We would have liked to have seen Kate but we all love William too!” Canadian tourist Laura said, while student Beth said: “I would have like to see little George too!”

Malta, a former British colony since 1813, achieved independence on September 21, 1964.

It was Prince William’s grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who travelled to Malta 50 years ago to hand over constitutional documents to then prime minister George Borg Olivier.

William will attend a reception to mark the lowering of the Union Jack flag and raising of the red and white Maltese standard half a century ago, before the evening winds up with a fireworks display over the little island’s majestic harbour.