Alfred’s empire

This book examines the invention and significance of Britain’s first global royal tour through the voyages of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1867 and 1871. It offers a global panorama of the late nineteenth century as experienced by a senior royal and naval officer, tracing how Alfred’s journeys aboard HMS Galatea sought to promote the prestige of the British monarchy, navy, and empire while remaining shaped by local political and social agendas. The study shows how these pioneering tours established a model for later imperial royal travel and assesses how Alfred’s voyages were variously remembered and forgotten in Britain, Europe, and across the wider world. In doing so, it revises understandings of royal mobility, imperial identity, and global monarchy.