On March 12, 1868, Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, attended a "Sailors' Home Picnic" at Clontarf, on the shores of Middle Harbour. The Prince had just left the luncheon tent when - to quote the "Sydney Mail" - "a treacherous assailant stole up behind him, pulled out a revolver, took deliberate aim, and fired." To the crowds, the shot sounded like "some *****. January 01, 1934.