TRADE links between Kent and Romania are set for a boost after a visit from a high-ranking royal.

In his first visit to the county, Prince Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen, son-in-law of the country's King Michael I, said his country would consider having a presence in the county's offices in Brussels.

Hungary and Lithuania already have desks in the international office representing Kent, Medway and other parts of the South East.

Kent County Councillor Alan Marsh, a businessman and aircraft pilot who has long experience of working in Romania, has urged the Prince to recommend that his Eastern European country does the same.

The prince is a special representative of the Government of Romania, advisor to Romania’s monarch, and patron of the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce.

The two men met face to face at Kent Business School, Canterbury, after a talk by the Prince on Romania in the University of Kent.

Cllr Marsh told him: "I would like to suggest that you should consider a desk in the international office. It would give you the strength of the whole South East under the welcome banner of KCC."

Prince Radu, 47, replied: "Anything that could develop and increase Romania’s presence in Brussels is welcome. We are very far away from the right size and shape and presence there."

He said he hoped to attend the European Business and Innovation Centres Network (EBN) congress in Canterbury in June.