George IV on board the Lightning the first Post Office steam packet to Dublin 1821

At the end of May 1821, after some reluctance, the Post Office introduced the first two steam mail-packets, 'Lightning' and 'Meteor', at Holyhead to carry the mails and passengers to Dublin. This picture is of the King's journey on 7 August 1822 to Dublin, off the coast of Holyhead, visible in the distance on the left. To the right of centre, in bright light, the 'Lightning' is depicted in starboard broadside, smoke billowing from her funnel, with the King and his entourage visible on the deck. To the left is the 'Royal George', still flying the 'Royal Standard', although the King had embarked on the steam-packet which only flies the ensign, and on the far left the other steam-packet, 'Meteor'. The Lightning was renamed the 'Royal Sovereign King George the Fourth', later shortened to 'Royal Sovereign R', 'R Sovereign' or 'Sovereign'.
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