THE Countess of Wessex had a busy schedule when she visited the county on Thursday.

The former Sophie Rhys-Jones, brought up in nearby Brenchley, flew to Benenden Hospital to help celebrate its centenary.

Highlight of the visit there was the unveiling of a 9ft sculpture, All Clear, by Rainham artist Bob Allen, inspired by his own experiences in intensive care.

The Countess also visited the paediatric unit, the new theatre suite and the Princess day surgery unit and procedure room.

In Canterbury, she put the Royal stamp of approval on a disabled school's £5.6million block. She met pupils, staff and other guests at St Nicholas School in Nunnery Fields to mark completion of the first phase of the KCC development.

The new block includes classrooms, staff room and suites for food technology, creative arts and ICT suites for the school's 133 pupils.

The Countess met representatives of the MOVE Programme to mark the school's centre of excellence status.

Headteacher Daniel Lewis praised staff and pupils and told them: "We have got to be proud of what we achieve."

Lord Mayor Cllr Pat Todd and Ch Supt Peter West were among invited guests. Cllr Todd said: "It is amazing what this school has become."

A major refurbishment of the existing school and a hydrotherapy suite should be complete by December as part of KCCs £105million spend on the county's special schools.

The Countess also visited Hadlow College, near Tonbridge, to officially open its new equine centre.

She toured the college’s new Broadview facilities, including landscaped gardens, tea room and shop.

The equine centre houses two international-size indoor arenas, outdoor arenas, stabling for more than 50 horses and a cross-country course.