This year's Windsor and Eton En Plein Air was launched in a glamorous ceremony within the walls of Windsor Castle's Moat Garden.

On Wednesday, June 5, representatives from the castle, town and participating artists gathered to speak on the unique event, to be held in July.

His Majesty King Charles III has given his permission for artists to be allowed in private areas of the castle to paint as part of an art competition on July 20.

Lasting seven hours, participants of En Plein Air - meaning 'in the open air' - will have their canvases stamped as empty at the beginning of the day.

They will then have the day to paint before their art is displayed in Windsor Royal Shopping, where judges will hand out awards to the very best, including the first-place prize of £2,000.

Amongst the judges will be the surveyor of The King's Pictures Anna Reynolds.

Speaking of the event Paul Roach, Windsor, Eton and Ascot Town Manager, said: "The event celebrates the intersection of art and heritage, offering artists a chance to create a masterpiece in an inspiring and historic setting.

"People come to the castle and take loads of photos, but the unique thing about this event is that you can potentially buy a painting of an area which will never have been captured by a camera."

Deborah James, organiser of En Plein Air Windsor and Eton, said: "This competition not only showcases the incredible talent of our participants but also highlights the enduring beauty of Windsor Castle, a symbol of our rich cultural heritage."

At the launch artists Katarzyna Aekbote, Harsh Agrawal, Saranjit Birdi, Hannah Bruce, Rodney Kingston and Sarah Luton showcased their art.

Harsh said the event offers a "very rare opportunity" to paint within the castle.

"You get to paint with other artists and paint in places which are not open to the public. To be able to see this garden is very inspiring," he said.

"It is a really nice sense of being able to represent something in your own way and your own time," added Hannah Bruce, who has painted at the event three times before.

"The events are beautifully organised and you feel very safe in the environment."

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

The open-air competition has been running in Windsor since 2012, when just a dozen artists took part. This year it is hoped that 120 artists will give the event a try.

Registration for the event closes on June 30.