The Royal Family watching Argaudi's balloon at Windsor Castle, 1783.

Coloured print published in 1874 illustrating the first balloon experiments undertaken in England. King George III (1738-1820), Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) and company are shown watching Argaudi's demonstration of a balloon at Windsor Castle on 26 November 1783. Just five days earlier, on 21 November 1783, the Montgolfier brothers had succesfully launched the first manned free flight ascent of a hot-air balloon, an event witnesed by the French Royal Family, including King Louis XVI (1754-1793) and Queen Marie Antoinette (1755-1793).