The Princess of Wales had the whole of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s archives at her fingertips on Tuesday morning.

On an unannounced visit to the V&A East Storehouse, Catherine, who serves as Royal Patron of the Victoria & Albert Museum, was able to view a new, free storehouse that will give visitors access to more than half a million pieces across many mediums.

According to Kensington Palace, Catherine’s visit was meant to “highlight the importance of creative opportunity and celebrate the joy found in creative expression.”

The many pieces on display come from every creative discipline, “from fashion to film, visual art, design, performance and beyond” which will give everyone “the opportunity to be able to share” the creative works at the heart of the United Kingdom’s artistic community.

The V&A East Storehouse was opened at the end of May and, “wherever possible, glass and barriers have been removed” to improve access and visibility.

Catherine spent part of the morning at the V&A East Storehouse, having received a private tour with both the curatorial team and the collections access team, before departing in the early afternoon.

With the curatorial team she heard how objects were selected for inclusion, and with the access team she learned how they work to ensure items are accessible to everyone visiting. She was overheard telling the teams, “What an opportunity for everyone to see these historic pieces. It’s so eclectic. And all parts of the process of displaying and curating.”

Kensington Palace shared a video of her visit, and Catherine wrote on social media: “Celebrating the joy of creative opportunity and craft… Great to see these incredible collections are now accessible to everyone, allowing us to enjoy our nation’s exceptional talent and history.”