 He was posted to the "President" for special service on 1 January 1901, but was shortly thereafter invited by the Duke of York to become second-in-command of the ocean liner SS "Ophir" during the royal cruise March–October 1901 to open the Parliament of Australia and visit Commonwealth countries to thank them for their support during the Boer War.Promoted to captain after their return, on 5 November 1901, he became an extra equerry to the Duke (now Prince of Wales) on 19 November 1901 and was appointed a Member (fourth class) of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) on 24 December 1901.He was again posted the "President" for temporary service at the Admiralty in October 1902, and became Captain of the Royal Naval College, Osborne, in August 1903.