Prince Goes to Party Amid Lockdown, Then Tests Positive

Belgium's Prince Joachim went to Spain, attended large gathering
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 1, 2020 2:24 AM CDT
Prince Apologizes for Attending Coronavirus Lockdown Party
The Belgian royal family. Front row, Princess Louise, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eleonore, Queen Paola, Prince Emmanuel, King Albert II, Princess Laetitia Marie, Queen Fabiola. Middle row, Prince Aymeric, Prince Nicolas, and Prince Gabriel. Back row, Princess Claire, Prince Laurent, Princess Mathilde,...   (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

A Belgian prince traveled from his home country to Spain on May 26 for an internship, and within two days of his arrival, he was one of 27 guests at what the BBC is calling a "lockdown party" held in a city that currently permits no more than 15 people at any gathering amid continuing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Worse: the prince, a nephew of Belgium's king, has since tested positive for the virus himself, per the BBC. "I apologize for not respecting all quarantine measures during my trip," Prince Joachim said in a statement Sunday. "In these difficult times I did not want to offend anyone. ... I deeply regret my actions." Police are investigating, and say anyone found to have broken lockdown rules could be fined. All party guests are currently quarantined. (More coronavirus stories.)

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