A royal family member has apologised after attending a party in Spain

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Coronavirus has changed life as we know it, isolating people to their homes, cancelling events and postponing travel plans.

No one is exempt from these guidelines, not even the royal family, with the Queen on lockdown in her Windsor Castle home and tended to by a skeleton staff, and Princess Beatrice forced to cancel her wedding.

One royal family member however has been forced to publicly apologise this week, after flying to Spain to attend a party.

The royal family member in question? Prince Joachim of Belgium.

Getty Images

The 28-year-old Belgian prince, nephew of King Philippe, is reported to have travelled to Spain on 26 May for an internship, attending a party in Cordoba two days later.

Spanish media has reported that 27 people were in attendance at the party and an investigation has now been opened by Spanish authorities.

Prince Joachim started showing symptoms of COVID-19 the next day and according to officials has since been diagnosed with coronavirus.

‘I would like to apologise for travelling and not having respected the quarantine measure,’ Prince Joachim announced in a statement, released through his attorney. ‘I did not intend to offend or disrespect anyone in these very difficult times and deeply regret my actions and accept the consequences.’

We will continue to update this story.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.