VIDEO: Royal Family fans revved up as Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Rotherham

Prince William is greeted by Chief Constable Stephen Watson

Prince William and Kate Middleton were at the Advanced Manufacturing Park this morning to formally open the new McLaren new composites technology centre.

Around 100 people — some of whom arrived at 9am — waited outside the plant near Catcliffe for the Duke and Duchess, along with the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Alan Buckley, council leader Cllr Chris Read, Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Master Cutler Nicholas Cragg and City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis.

The new centre will be used to improve the process of designing and constructing lightweight carbon fibre “tubs”, which form the internal shell of all McLaren cars, and the royal couple will be shown the prototype manufacturing line.

Inside the factory, they met McLaren executives Ruth Nic Aoidh, Ken Smart and Claudio Santoni, plus plant director Wes Jacklin and saw some of the supercars close up, as well as the cutting-edge parts used in their construction.

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They met staff from the factory to hear about how the facility will create 200 jobs, and spoke to some of McLaren’s STEM Ambassadors about developing hi-tech skills.

Prince William said: “I look forward to seeing more of them on the road" as he left the McLaren factory.

Later in the day, they are due to visit Barnsley’s local Centrepoint hostel and meet young people supported by the charity.