SHE entered to a deafening roar.

Hundreds cheered as they got their first glimpse of one of the world’s most controversial celebrities.

Former glamour model Katie Price received a rapturous reception as she tottered onto the balcony of the Swan Centre, Eastleigh, carrying her youngest child Princess, who was smiling and waving to the crowds as they chanted her mum’s name.

The reality TV star turned businesswoman and best-selling author signed more than 400 copies of her latest volume in the hour at the shopping centre.

Despite being 45 minutes late, the 32-year-old mum-of-three got rave reviews after writing personalised messages for starstruck fans clutching copies of her new autobiography.

Katie told the Daily Echo: “I want to thank my Eastleigh fans for coming out and supporting me.”

Katie’s trip was part of a tour of WH Smith branches.

She had rushed to Eastleigh from Guildford, in Surrey, before heading on to Colchester in Essex.

First in the queue was Sherriline Roles, 34, who had brought children Nakita, 12, Chloe, 14, Victoria, 6, and Keith, 7.

All were wearing T-shirts emblazoned in pink with “Team Price” and “I Love Katie” and had been there since 6.30am. Sherriline, from Eastleigh, said: “We’re very big fans, she’s just an inspiration to all mums I think. She was beautiful.”

The 34-year-old housewife brought Katie’s children Princess, Junior and Harvey Easter eggs with their names on them.

“She said ‘Go over and give Princess hers’, so my daughter Victoria went over and gave it to her, and she took Junior and Harvey’s,” said Sherriline. “It was worth the wait, I’m still crying now. I cried as soon as she came out.”

Katie’s young fans were also impressed.

Brandon Swann, 10, of Eastleigh, gave her a crystal heart and told her “This is from my heart to yours”. She told him he was going to be a little heartbreaker.

He said: “I found it very exciting, I was very nervous about it, I just want to go and meet her again now. She is very pretty, I like everything about her.”

Patrycia Niciejewska, 12, of Eastleigh, said: “It was really nice meeting her. I was in shock when she started signing my book. She told me I had a beautiful name.”

The star wrote in her book: “Never let your dreams come down. Keep on reading.”

Katie’s impressive performance yesterday comes after she disappointed fans at WestQuay, Southampton, by failing to show up for a book signing in 2009.

She claimed the veneer had fallen off her teeth, but some fans believe she cancelled after a bust-up with then boyfriend Alex Reid or ex-husband Peter Andre.

There was a minor commotion before Katie’s grand entrance when some people previously barred from the Swan Centre for nuisance behaviour were removed by security.