The Countess of Wessex donned military uniform when she visited soldiers responsible for keeping the army’s helicopters and weapons in good order.

It was her first trip to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at MOD Lyneham since becoming honorary Colonel-in-Chief in March, a title that was previously held for more than half a century by the Duke of Edinburgh.

The visit to Prince Philip Barracks on Wednesday gave her an opportunity to meet officers and soldiers at the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering and the School of Army Aeronautical Engineering where she was introduced to some of the trades being taught at the former RAF base.

Col Jason Phillips said: “It has been a truly special day for the many members of the REME family who met with and talked to HRH.

“She saw everything from recovery training to avionics repair and additive manufacturing.”

The Countess was invited to watch a vehicle recovery exercise on the training area and a demonstration of how a vehicle is repaired post recovery.

This was followed by a high tech display showing how the technical training is translated into operational effect in the field army, including augmented reality and a 3D printing process to make functional components like tools.

While she was there she unveiled a plaque announcing a new name for the technical workshops and offices of 5 Force Support Battalion.

The battalion’s commanding officer, Lt Col Edward Wigmore said: “We’ve been extremely lucky to welcome Her Royal Highness to the Battalion where we’ve demonstrated our peoples’ unique and specialist capabilities.

“The visit culminated with HRH naming our new home The Countess of Wessex Lines and completes our unit move to MOD Lyneham, the home of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.”

The RAF base at Lyneham became internationally famous when repatriations of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan were diverted from Brize Norton between 2007 and 2011.

It closed in 2012 and conversion to a military engineering training school began two years later. The first units moved in in 2016 and the new REME headquarters was opened that year by Prince Philip.

As well as the training school, it houses the REME Museum.