THE Countess of Wessex visited a Hampshire park today to mark the reopening of a renovated chapel.

The Countess visited the newly renovated Chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park on Monday (November 12), to mark its formal opening.

She unveiled a plaque which was placed on the original hospital foundation stone and sealed a time-capusle, containing items including today's copy of the Daily Echo.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome The Countess of Wessex to one of our most iconic Grade II listed buildings.

"The historic chapel is all that remains of the British Army’s first purpose built military hospital, and with her own military links and interest in nursing, we hope she will find her visit really exciting."

Her visit follows a £3.5 million project to conserve the chapel for future generations funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Hampshire County Council.

During her visit, The Countess took a tour of the chapel before signing a scroll, which was placed in a time capsule to be buried under the original foundation stone of the hospital.

The moment aimed to recreate history from when Queen Victoria laid the same foundation stone in 1856, along with a time capsule containing the plans, which has now been recovered and conserved.