Maltese Titles and their committee
The Maltese titolati whose claims were accepted by the Royal Commission and sanctioned by Queen Victoria were allowed to elect a Committee with functions analogous to those of the Commission of the English House of Lords, with the purpose of examining further claims to titles of nobility not included in the original list of the Commission. Notwithstanding these concessions the nobles did not fail to complain; they remarked that the titles 'most noble' and 'most illustrious' were omitted from the offical document and , among others things, they were still not allowed to join the Union Club-an institution founded in 1826 for promoting an entent cordiale between the English and the Maltese. As result of a debate held in the House of Lords on the 20 April 1885, the Colonial Secretary was urged 'to do all he could to recognise the nobility still further, as it would smooth the intercourse.......between the English and Maltese societies and to strenghten British rule in the Islands. Following this intervention, there was a complete reversal of attitude towards the nobles of Malta, some of whom were even recieved in the Private Drawing-room of Queen Victoria.
Act No XXIX of 1975. Gieg ir-Republika Act,1975. Part IV: Titles of Nobility and Foreign Honours and decorations. Section 19 (1) 'Titles of Nobility are not recognised and any privilege or other right ancillary to any such title shall cease to have affect. (2) Nothing is subsection (1) of this section shall prejudicially affect any proprietary right which may be competent to or may devolve on any person as the person who, but for the previsions in the deed or instrument of foundations, or in any other document, requiring the use of a title of nobility or any name or other description for the enjoyment of any proprietary right shall be without any effect whatsoever'. Section 20(4)' It shall be the duty of every public officer or authority, and of every body established or recognised by law and of every member thereof, to retain from recognising in any way, and from doing anything which could imply recognition of, any title of nobility.......' Before the amendment, Section 19(!) read as follows: Titles of nobility are hereby abolished and any recognition thereof and any privilege or other ancillary thereto shall cease to have effect'.