Coronavirus: Belgium’s Prince Joachim fined for breaking Spain’s lockdown


Coronavirus: Belgium's Prince Joachim fined for breaking Spain's lockdown

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Prince Joachim, 28, is the nephew of the Belgian king

A Belgian prince who contracted coronavirus after breaking lockdown rules in Spain has been fined €10,400 ($11,800).

Prince Joachim was issued with the penalty for failing to observe a 14-day quarantine period after arriving in the country.

The prince, 28, arrived in Spain for an internship on 24 May, but attended a gathering in the southern city of Córdoba two days later.

He has since apologised.

“I deeply regret my actions,” the prince said in a statement after reports about the party emerged in Spanish media late last month. He added that he would “accept the consequences”.

He has 15 days to pay the fine, in which case the amount will be reduced by half.

  • How lockdown is being lifted across Europe
  • Spain’s capital Madrid adjusts to new normal

Spain imposed a mandatory two-week quarantine for all international arrivals on 15 May.

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Media captionThe lockdown has eased in Spain, but there are still time restrictions on when people can be outdoors

Prince Joachim is a nephew of Belgium’s King Philippe and 10th in line to the throne.

More than 27,000 people have died of coronavirus in Spain since the outbreak began.


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