Framed Chromolithograph by Spy (Leslie Ward) picturing HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Alfred Ernest Albert, later Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha.

The second son of Victoria and Albert he joined the Royal Navy at 14, he rose through the ranks to attain the position of Admiral of the Fleet by 1893 having served as Cadet, Lieutenant and Captain of HMS Galatea which he commanded in the Pacific Ocean. He commanded both the Channel fleet and, later, the Mediterranean Fleet from his flagship HMS Alexandra.

The Duke survived an assassination attempt while visiting Sydney Australia and went on to marry a Grand Duchess of Russia.

Alfred was a musical enthusiast and took a leading role in the establishment of the the Royal College of Music in 1882. He was a particularly keen violinist although his playing was not of the first quality. After a dinner party given by one of his brothers where he was persuaded to play Sir Henry Ponsonby would write: 'Fiddle out of tune and noise abominable'