DERELICT buildings have been covered with banners, new flowers have been planted and city streets hosed down to look their best, all in anticipation of the arrival of the Prince of Wales tomorrow morning.

The royal couple has a packed itinerary that includes visits to the English Market, UCC, the NMCI and the naval base.

Banners were being installed to cover derelict buildings in the area, while barriers were being put up to remove parking in a number of areas.

The Lord Mayor of Cork has welcomed the visit, which comes seven years after a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the city.

Cllr Tony Fitzgerald said, "The people of Cork, and indeed the people of Ireland, have very fond memories of the visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Cork in 2011 when it was clear to all that the Queen thoroughly enjoyed her time in the city, describing it in a letter afterwards to the Lord Mayor’s office as ‘colourful and lively."

A Lord Mayor's reception will take place at City Hall, with the itinerary also including a special dinner in the city centre tomorrow evening.

A full security detail will be in place over the course of the visit, with traffic, parking and pedestrian restrictions in place from today.

A number of areas, including Grand Parade, South Mall and Anglesea Street have already had parking removed, while from 7.15am to 2pm tomorrow, a series of city streets will be subject to pedestrian and parking restrictions. These include Grand Parade, Tuckey Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, South Mall and Patrick Street.