In July to September 1860 Prince Alfred paid an official visit to South Africa while serving as a midshipman on board HMS Euryalus. His tour took him through the Cape Colony, Eastern Cape, Natal and the Orange Free State. From Port Elizabeth he proceeded by land in a strenuous trip of five weeks by mule wagon and on horse-back which formed the so-called 'White Train'. The Prince, who had learnt the rudiments of photography before the visit, took with him a double stereoscopic box camera and other photographic materials and equipment. These photographs are probably some of the earliest surviving pictures by the Prince, and they are preserved in an album of his work, dating from 1860 to April 1865.