Rather than a belated birthday gift, it was more of a symbolic compensation given to Arthur under the threat of Queen Victoria and the satisfaction of having achieved his own goals.
Arthur's seventeenth birthday was on January 13th. Influenced by Duke Arthur, this birthday was celebrated quietly by himself and his family, without any celebrations or parties.
However, this did not mean that the British Royal Family, led by Queen Victoria and Crown Prince Edward, was unaware of it.
On the contrary, having been created Prince of Wales at a young age, Crown Prince Edward had cultivated a large faction of his own over a long period. Although insignificant to Queen Victoria, it was definitely not to the extent that he would be unaware of Arthur's birthday.
No matter what, the fifty million pounds given by Crown Prince Edward was real, and naturally Arthur would not refuse it.
Although thirty million pounds of this came from a loan from the Bank of London, a major share of the Bank of London was in the hands of Crown Prince Edward, meaning that this thirty million was effectively a gift.
In this case, the funds in Arthur's hands were about to reach one hundred and thirty-seven million pounds. Solely in terms of personal wealth, Arthur was confident he could enter the world's top five.
Paying no attention to Arthur's reaction, Crown Prince Edward finally heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Queen Victoria's reasonably satisfied expression.
The Crown Prince understood that although he seemed securely the first in line to the throne, as long as Queen Victoria announced the revocation of his status as crown prince, a vast majority of the British public and political circles would undoubtedly endorse it.
One must never underestimate the status of Queen Victoria in the hearts of British commoners. For Britain to be integrated into a massive United Kingdom, the supreme and lofty status of Queen Victoria in the hearts of each constituent kingdom was an indispensable condition.
"Arthur, you should have become a supreme duke of the British Empire, but since you wish to go to remote Australia, I will not stop you. As your grandmother, I have nothing much to give you, so I will grant you one hundred million pounds in compensation and fifty million pounds worth of industrial equipment," Queen Victoria said, gently stroking Arthur's head.
"Australia is a remote region after all. Leaving aside educational and medical conditions, the infrastructure is very backward and extremely unstable," Queen Victoria said slowly. "The money I am giving you is not for you to indulge in idle pleasures, but for you to use these funds and this industrial equipment to develop Australia's infrastructure, medical care, education, and industry. This is for your own sake, and equally for all Australians, is it not?"
"I understand, Grandmother. Since I have already become the Duke of Australia, I will make the development of the entire Australia my lifelong goal," Arthur nodded, saying solemnly.
"That's good. Although we are traveling together this time, you are going to Australia, and I am going to New Zealand. Grandmother cannot watch over you and protect you every moment; you must walk the road ahead on your own," Queen Victoria continued to admonish.
"On behalf of the British Royal Family, I present to you a Royal Guard Army two thousand strong. Their families will also accompany you to Australia. Arthur, if you cannot bear it, go to New Zealand to find Grandmother; never force yourself to endure."
Queen Victoria's seemingly nagging words felt like the warm spring sun in Arthur's heart, comforting him deeply.
Having arrived in this world for over five months now, Queen Victoria was also one of the few people who genuinely treated him with kindness.
March 4, 1900.
The fleet, which had been prepared for over half a month, finally set sail. Only this time, the scale of the fleet had expanded significantly once again, and the accompanying Guard Army numbered as many as four thousand, half of whom now belonged personally to Arthur.
Speaking of the Royal Guard Army, also called the Royal Guard Division, it was a private army belonging solely to the British Royal Family, with a history spanning hundreds of years since its birth.
Every single guard soldier was an elite meticulously selected from the British Army, far surpassing the ordinary British Army in daily training and disciplinary constraints.
Although the Royal Navy of the British Empire was world-renowned, causing the British Army to be rather less famous by comparison.
In reality, the combat effectiveness of the regular British Army could rank in the top three in Europe. Aside from being slightly inferior to the German Army and the French Army, both in terms of soldier quality and weaponry and equipment, they led the armies of all other European countries.
And the Royal Guard Division, meticulously selected from among these British Army troops, already possessed a combat effectiveness that could rival the German Elite Army.
Composed of five infantry regiments, two cavalry regiments, and one reserve regiment, the Royal Guard Division was practically an important instrument for the British Royal Family to maintain its rule.
The departure of the fleet was given a grand farewell by a large crowd of London citizens. Even until the fleet had completely sailed away, the fervent crowd remained at the port, long reluctant to leave.
On March 14, after a voyage lasting ten full days, the fleet arrived at the Suez Canal, a waterway that was the busiest in the world, both now and in the future.
The Suez Canal connected Eastern Africa with regions such as India and Southeast Asia, and was regarded by Britain as a vital instrument for controlling India.
Precisely for this reason, ever since the British Empire gained control of the Suez Canal, it had stationed heavy troops there to protect this extremely crucial waterway.
The garrison troops on the canal had learned of Queen Victoria's impending arrival long in advance, and had already formed up along the canal in formation to welcome her.
Arthur also felt the adoration and respect that the British people of this era held for Queen Victoria. This was both the pride and glory felt by all British people for the achievements attained by the British Empire, and equally their recognition of the queen who had governed the empire for decades.
Together with Queen Victoria, after inspecting the canal garrison, the fleet set sail once more, with India as its destination this time.
Queen Victoria's journey this time was perhaps not merely as simple as recuperation. Although the purpose of the journey was very clear, she was to make stops at the Suez Canal, India, and Australia respectively, before finally arriving at the Isle of Wight in New Zealand.
The three stopping places chosen by Queen Victoria all held special significance. Australia, needless to say, was Arthur's future domain, and Queen Victoria choosing to dock in Australia was not without the intention of deterring local factions.
As for the Suez Canal and India, they were strategic regions that the British Empire could not afford to lose.
Britain's rise relied half on technological leadership brought by the Industrial Revolution, and half on the vast territories, populations, and cheap resources brought by external colonization.
India, in particular, not only possessed an inexhaustible labor force and numerous fine ports, but also boasted abundant agricultural output, and was hailed as the jewel in the crown.
For the British Empire, the importance of British India far outweighed the importance of all other colonies.
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