Between 1879 and 1882, His Royal Highnesses Prince Albert Victor and Prince George (the future King George V), sons of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward 7th), served as a midshipman on-board HMS Bacchante, an ironcladscrew-propelled corvette of the Royal Navy. 

The princes’ tutor, John Neale Dalton, accompanied them as tutor and chaplain for the duration of the journey. During their time time on HMS Bacchante, the ship toured many territories of the British Empire, including colonies in the Caribbean, South Africa and Australia. They also visited South America, the Mediterranean, Egypt and East Asia.