Illuminated letter to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh

On 31st October 1867 Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert arrived in Adelaide South Australia for a five month visit. It was the first time a member of the British royal family had come to Australia. He attracted large crowds and some protesters wherever he went. He traveled to Melbourne, Tasmania, then on to Sydney where there was an assassination attempt. He was shot in the back by an Irishman Henry James O'Farrell. At the time there was much dissent between Irish Catholics and the British Protestants. This elaborately designed letter of good wishes for a speedy recovery was made by the four main schools at the time - Melbourne Grammar, Wesley College, St Patrick's College and Scotch College. 

He is the reason why we have the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and Prince Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. 

He later married Marie, the daughter of the Russian Czar Alexander II, and inherited the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He died in Germany in 1900 aged 55. His wife Marie died in 1920 aged 67. The Marie biscuit was created for the occasion of her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh.