Meet Joseph Muscat’s Children: Soleil Sophie Muscat and Etoile Ella Muscat

Joseph Muscat, Malta’s former Prime Minister from 2013 to 2020, has long been known for keeping his family life private, particularly when it comes to his twin daughters, who rarely appear in public.

Born on 22 January 1974 in Pietà, Malta, he is 51 years old and is Maltese by nationality and heritage.

He grew up in a Roman Catholic household; his father, John Muscat, is a fireworks manufacturer, while his mother, Mary Muscat, was a homemaker. He is the eldest of three children, with two younger sisters, Josianne Muscat and Jacqueline Muscat.

Muscat attended St Aloysius College before enrolling at the University of Malta, where he completed a BA in Public Administration and Management in 1995, a BA (Hons) in Communications in 1996, and an MA in European Studies in 1997.

He later earned a PhD in management research from the University of Bristol in 2007 with a thesis focused on corporate governance in small states. His early involvement in politics began at age 16 when he joined the Labour Party’s youth wing, later working as a journalist with the party’s Super One media before becoming a full-time politician. He stands approximately 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m).

Muscat has been married to Michelle Muscat (Michelle Tanti) since 28 September 2001, having met her through Labour Party events in the late 1990s. There is no public indication of any previous marriages or notable past relationships.

The couple welcomed twin daughters, Soleil Sophie Muscat and Etoile Ella Muscat, on 28 March 2015. Their celestial-inspired names drew public interest upon their announcement, reflecting the couple’s preference for meaningful, distinctive names.

Soleil Sophie Muscat

Soleil Sophie Muscat is one of the Muscat twins, whose first name means “sun” in French. The name was reportedly chosen by Joseph Muscat himself, who has said in past interviews that the moment he first held his daughters, he felt an overwhelming warmth and light—hence “Soleil” for the sun and, for her sister, “Etoile” meaning “star.”  

Sophie, her middle name, is a classic choice that balances the boldness of Soleil. Although the twins were born just after Muscat became Prime Minister, he took immediate paternity leave—a rare move for a head of government at the time—to spend the first weeks with Michelle and the newborns.

In one of his few public comments about fatherhood during that period, he described Soleil and Etoile as “the two most beautiful things I have ever seen.”

Soleil, now 10 years old, has only very occasionally been glimpsed in family photos shared privately or during rare public events where the Muscats brought the children along, always shielding them from cameras.

Etoile Ella Muscat

Etoile Ella Muscat, the second twin, carries a name that means “star” in French, complementing her sister’s solar theme. Like Soleil, her middle name—Ella—is simple, melodic, and widely loved.

The twins are fraternal, not identical, and those who have met the family say the girls have distinct personalities despite their shared birthday.

Joseph and Michelle have spoken warmly about the challenges and joys of raising twins while in office. Michelle Muscat once shared that the girls began speaking a mix of Maltese and French at home (the French influence coming from the meanings behind their names and the couple’s admiration for the language).

Etoile, in particular, has been described by her father as the more adventurous of the two, always curious and quick to explore. As with Soleil, Etoile has grown up largely out of the public eye.

The Muscat family has made a conscious decision to give both girls as normal a childhood as possible, enrolling them in local schools and keeping them away from political events and media attention.