YOUNGSTERS met their very own Prince Charming when the Earl of Wessex officially opened a new respite centre for disabled children in Hampshire.

In an event marking years of hard work and determination, Prince Edward gave the Rose Road Association's state-of-the-art facility his royal seal of approval.

Staff, parents, trustees and fundraisers gathered excitedly at the purpose-built Bradbury Centre at Aldermoor to welcome the prince yesterday.

His hour-and-a-half long visit marked the achievement of a seven-year effort to bring the new school and centre to fruition.

After being welcomed to the new site, Prince Edward switched on a water feature which had been donated by Clive and Angela Renyard. Their gift was in memory of their son Matthew, a former Rose Road pupil, who died exactly one year ago.

Expressing his thanks for being invited to the event, the prince said said: "You have overcome a number of adversities to achieve this. Congratulations to everybody who has worked so hard."

One of the children from Rose Road, Sarah-Jane, handed the prince a teddy bear and card for his new baby daughter, Louise, before he began a tour of the centre.

Meanwhile, guests reflected on the day's significance in the large new hall, entertained by Southampton Youth Brass Band and Liberty Pride cheerleaders..

The £5m centre that boasts many specialist facilities is the result of a huge fundraising project. The enormous money-raising effort gripped the community after the association announced plans to build a larger and better centre for disabled children in Hampshire in 1996.

It was eventually completed at the end of last year after having been delayed when a fire damaged the building in March.

The move out of the old centre at Rose Road, Southampton and into the new building took place in December last year.

Chief executive of the Rose Road Association Heather Aspinall said: "It has been such an exciting day and has made all the work worthwhile.

"His Royal Highness was really interested in the centre and it was an honour to have him here to help us celebrate."

Before leaving the city, the Earl of Wessex then went on to Southampton's Ordnance Survey head office. He was met by director general and chief executive Vanessa Lawrence and shown the latest mapping technology.

He donned special glasses to view work in 3D and was able to create a small souvenir map during his visit. The map bore a unique symbol of a cot especially created for the occasion to mark the location of Edward's family home in Bagshot Park, Surrey.