The German Emperor’s state visit to Britain came to an end. The Manchester Courier reported his departure on the Imperial yacht as follows:
The German Emperor arrived at South Leith Station from London at five minutes past seven yesterday morning. The station platform was covered with crimson cloth, and there was a good display of bunting … The Emperor, alighting from the train, shook hands with the Consul and others. He then stepped into one of the four carriages which were in waiting for the party, and drove through the Albert Dock, the people cheering as he passed along. At the north side of the dock were a steam launch and two boats from the Hohenzollern. The Emperor and party boarded one of the boats, which was rowed down the harbour amid the cheers of the crowd, and a steam launch and other boats following, and embarked on board the Hohenzollern.
Palais Royal – the former cargo ship, Tycho Brahe
At that very moment, Charles Deville Wells – soon to gain fame as the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo – was preparing to purchase his own yacht, Palais Royal, which at almost 300 feet in length was even larger than the Emperor’s imposing craft, Hohenzollern.