The Countess of Wessex visited the staff and students of the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy yesterday afternoon.She and her husband, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, arrived on the Island Wednesday night, and are scheduled to leave Bermuda on a flight this morning. The Countess chatted with several of the school’s 23 students during yesterday’s brief visit.She was taken on a 40-minute tour of the school, during which time she was able to watch as food was prepared, a garden was made ready for the Annual Exhibition and students underwent physical therapy exercises.The tour was given by principal Dena Butterfield Lister, who enlightened the Countess on how the publicly-funded school operates.Education Minster Dame Jennifer Smith was also present. She later described the visit as a pleasure. “I think it was good for the staff and the students that the Countess visited,” Dame Jennifer said. “With her, and all the cameras, the children thought everyone had come to see them, which they really seemed to enjoy.“She showed quite an interest in the special education system here compared with that in the UK.”