 Empress of India was commissioned at Chatham on 11 September 1893 to relieve the ironclad battleship Anson as the flagship of the second @-@ in @-@ command of the Channel Fleet . She participated in annual manoeuvres in the Irish Sea and English Channel as a unit of the " Blue Fleet " , 2 – 5 August 1894 . Sometime during the year , the ship was fitted with bilge keels to reduce her rolling . In June 1895 , Empress of India was among the ships representing the Royal Navy at the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in Germany . That summer , the ship again took part in annual manoeuvres , held from 24 July to 30 August 1895 . She became a private ship in December 1895 and was paid off at Chatham on 7 June 1897 . The following day , Empress of India recommissioned for service with the Mediterranean Fleet . Before departing , she took part in the Fleet Review for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria at Spithead on 26 June . 
