Villa Guardamangia (Italian – 'look' and 'eat'), formerly known as Casa Medina[1][2] and sometimes referred to as Casa Guardamangia,[3] is a 16,791-square-foot (1,559.9 m2) townhouse in Gwardamanġa, Pietà, Malta, which served as the residence of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II), and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1949 and 1951, while Philip was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer.

[4] The building was given much of its present appearance around 1900[5][6][7][8] by its then owner, Sir Augusto Bartolo,[9] when the mansion was called Casa Medina.

[12] It consists of 18 rooms in the living quarters, stables for the animals, a large garden area with a walk-path and a war shelter.

[13] Around 1929, the villa was first leased to the then Lord Louis Mountbatten,[5] who had interest in it because of its proximity to Marsa, which has a horse racing track and a golf course that suited his lavish lifestyle.

[5] The villa was in a bad state and divided into apartments,[1] leading the Mountbattens to reside in two rooms at the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana[1] while the house was being renovated.

[5] When the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh came to Malta at first they lodged at San Anton Palace, hosted by Lord Strickland and his wife.

[17] The couple returned a number of times between then and 1952, while Philip was stationed in Malta as a Royal Navy officer,[18] and Elizabeth worked with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) at Auberge de Castile.

[31] The villa is found just outside the outskirts[32] and suburb[33] of Valletta in the hamlet of Guardamangia[34] set just at the crest[35] in a quiet residential area[36] in a narrow street.

[9] The building is built with limestone, known as sandstone and described by the Queen as "yellow stone",[10] and designed with spacious interiors.

In the middle of the terrace is where a bench stood that is the place where most known published photos of the royal couple and guests were taken.

[47] The garden had a function to entertain and also to cultivate flowers, which Prince Philip enjoyed to have in his cabin and wardroom.