A Royal family could be moving to Oxfordshire after being enchanted by a visit to their ancestral home.

Desmond de Silva QC, was joined by his wife Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, and their eight-year-old daughter, Victoria, on a visit to Helensbourne, East St Helen Street, Abingdon.

Now Princess Katarina, who enjoyed tea with Abingdon's Mayor Audrey Hasnip during the visit, is hoping to buy a property in the town. Mr de Silva said: "It was an absolutely delightful visit.

Helensbourne House was, for 300 years (until 1790), the home of the Rose and Hawkins families, Mr de Silva's ancestors.

The families are acknowledged as being highly-influential in the social and political development of Abingdon. Their story is recounted in local historian Mieneke Cox's latest book, Abingdon - an 18th Century Town.

Mrs Cox, said: "The Rose and Hawkins families were two of Abingdon's most influential and wealthy landowners."

Mr de Silva is a direct descendant of Lt Richard Rose, whose father was Mayor of Abingdon, nine times in succession.

Lt Rose left Helensbourne for India, in 1760 to fight for the Honourable East India Company. He died of wounds after fighting in the siege of Ahtoor in June 1768. A monument to Lt Rose still stands at the south port of St Helen's Wharf.

When Princess Katarina's ancestor, King George III, was on the throne of England, her husband's ancestors were Lords of the Manor of Wootton and Boars Hill.

Story date: Tuesday 16 November

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