A CASTLE, a bridge, a white horse, a plant nursery and a warship will all receive a royal visit today.

The Princess Royal is touring Dorset and residents will be turning out in force to give her a warm welcome.

She will be unveiling plaques at Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge, Bournemouth’s Cherry Tree Nursery, and at HMS Cattistock tied up on the quay, and at the restored Durlston Castle.

While at Osmington she will unveil the restored historic White Horse monument on the hill.

Her visit to Poole’s long awaited £37m Twin Sails Bridge scheme this afternoon comes after Friday’s celebratory party which took place on the 85th anniversary of the opening of Poole Bridge.

The Royal visitor will meet the civic party and bridge constructors, cross the bridge from the town centre to Hamworthy and go to the control room where she will press the button to raise the structure, which is not yet open to traffic.

She will then go to a reception on HMS Cattistock, a 740-tonne Hunt Class mine countermeasures vessel, attending a private ceremony hosted by Commodore Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander for West England.

Met by civic leaders and the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Valerie Pitt-Rivers, her presence will delight her hosts at every stop. The Queen’s daughter is visiting the Cherry Tree Nursery to officially open the new Sheltered Work Opportunities Project sustainable building, after Mrs Pitt-Rivers recommended a Royal visit.

Around 150 people attend the project as volunteers, which provides a supportive, family working environment for adults with severe and enduring mental illness.

“The royal visit represents recognition of all we have achieved and of the value and importance of Cherry Trees,” said Jessica Davies, nursery manager.

Durlston Castle’s £5.5million restoration project took 18 months and provides a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and she will tour the building and meet those who made it happen.