Portrait.

HRH Prince Albert, Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900), was the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He joined the Navy in 1858 and even allowing for the advantages of his birth had a professionally successful career, rising to active flag rank, including command of the Mediterranean Fleet. He was known as the Duke of Edinburgh from 1866 until he succeeded his paternal uncle, Ernest II, as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893, when he was promoted Admiral of the Fleet on leaving the Navy. He commanded the 'Galatea' for several years from January 1867, sailing her round the world on a series of official visits from July that year, during which he was badly wounded in a failed assassination attempt during his second visit to Australia in March 1868.