THE Countess of Wessex made a rare trip to Swanage yesterday – and this time the weather did not spoil the day.

She was in the historic seaside town to officially open Swanage’s new guiding headquarters, where she met local rainbows, brownies and guides.

HRH Sophie was due to attend the opening of the Bell Street building, last April, but her helicopter could not land because of low cloud.

This time, however, the weather was fine and the visit went like clockwork.

Huge cheers, from the 100-strong crowd, rang out when the helicopter was spotted hovering over nearby Swanage Middle School.

Minutes later, around 3.15pm, the countess was walking among the crowd meeting excited youngsters.

After introductions she unveiled a plaque dedicating the building, which was followed by a speech from Girlguiding Purbeck divisional commissioner Val Burden.

Val said: “It is a real pleasure to welcome HRH here to see the climax of this project.

“This building was a chapel and has been a centre of love for 150 years – this leaves a mark on a building.”