Princess of Wales' visit to Southampton: All you need to know

Catherine travelled to Southampton this lunchtime to open a new residential community.

Residents of all ages gathered outside Hope Street donning red, white, and blue and clutching bunches of flowers they hoped to give to the Princess.

Here is everything you need to know about her visit:

READ MORE: Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits Southampton - Live updates 

The Princess of Wales (right) with Edwina Grosvenor (centre), founder of the charity One Small Thing during a visit to Hope Street (Image: Daniel Leal/PA Wire)

Why was Catherine in Southampton?

The Princess of Wales arrived at Hope Street a few minutes after 12pm today. 

She travelled there to open the pioneering family-friendly facility supporting women in the justice system and their children.

She arrived in a convoy lead by two police motorbikes.

The Princess was in a black Range Rover when she rolled up to the venue. 

She was wearing a blue Polka Dot dress and carrying a white handbag.

What is Hope Street?

Hope Street is a new residential community that aims to support women in the justice system.

It has been created by the charity One Small Thing and will work to prevent women from receiving custodial sentences just because this is the only option available.

The Princess of Wales with Edwina Grosvenor, founder of the charity One Small Thing (Image: Daniel Leal / PA Wire)

Hope Street provides a safe and calm environment where women can meet the requirements of a community sentence.

Their children can live with them and they can access therapy, treatment and support.

The project also helps them access training and employment and make new links into the local community.

What did residents say?

Mum and daughter Kayleigh Faye and Rosie Faye. (Image: Shivalika Puri)

Kayleigh Faye and her daughter Rosie were on Hope Street to see the Princess.

Rosie chose a bunch of flowers to give to Catherine.

Kayleigh said: “My sister lives in the accommodation. We are here to show support for her and see the Princess.

“My daughter like the royal family quite a lot. She was very sad when the Queen died.”

Tegan Budge came down to Hope Street with Kate Philips and Emeli Farr.

Kate Phillips, Tegan Budge, 26, and Emeli Farr, 32. (Image: Newsquest)

The 26-year-old is also hoping to give the Princess some flowers.

Tegan, a nurse at University Hospital Southampton, told our reporter on the scene: "I heard about the visit this morning on the news. I’m a massive royalist, I go to all the events.

"I have come straight from the night shift just to be here.

"I’m very excited to be here, hopefully I’ll be able to give her the flowers."

Two American sisters, Lorna Fyffe and Vivienne Golden, were sat outside the new accommodation to try and catch a glimpse of the Princess of Wales.

Sisters Lorna Fyffe and Vivienne Golden. (Image: Shivalika Puri)

Lorna said: "For me, it’s really an experience because I never thought I’ll meet one of the members of the royal family.

"This is like once in a lifetime opportunity."

Vivienne added: "It’s our first time to seeing someone from the Royal Family and I don’t think any one in our family has seen them too."