The Royal Yacht sailed towards Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) on the final stage of the Prince’s tour. En route, the Osborne stopped at several islands, including Rhodes and Patmos. The party eventually arrived at the heart of the Ottoman Empire on 20 May, where they were greeted by the ruler, Sultan Abdülaziz.

The Prince spent a week in Constantinople, also taking the opportunity to visit the former hospital used by British troops during the Crimean War in 1855. The party then set sail for Athens before turning homewards, stopping at several islands on the way including Cephalonia, Ithaca and Malta, where the Prince received a rapturous reception.