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The Royal Family are as susceptible to the raging coronavirus pandemic as anyone else meaning they are mandated to adhere to the same lockdown rules as others. However, one royal received an extensive fine this week after breaching lockdown rules.

Prince Joachim from Belgium has been at the centre of royal controversy after he was fined more than £9,000 for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules.

Joachim is the youngest son of King Philippe’s sister, Princess Astrid and her husband Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este.

He is currently 10th in line to the Belgian throne.

Not much is known about the 28-year-old’s life, but according to reports he is dating a Spanish woman who lives in Córdoba.

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Joachim was issued with a €10,400 (£9321) fine after breaking lockdown restrictions in effect in Spain.

Prince Joachim arrived in Spain for an internship on May 24 but failed to observe the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon his arrival.

Instead, Joachim attended a gathering the southern city of Córdoba two days later.

Prince Joachim tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting Córdoba and is reportedly experiencing mild symptoms.

Initially, it claimed, the event he attended had more than 15 people present which was in breach of another Spanish lockdown rule mandating gatherings of more than 15 people are banned.

However, this was later revealed to be untrue.

Joachim, in fact, attended two separate parties, during which he came into contact with 27 people who all had to be quarantined following his diagnosis.

At least one of these individuals has since tested positive for COVID-19.

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On May 31, Prince Joachim issued a statement via his attorney.

He said: “I apologise for not respecting all quarantine measures during my trip.

“In these difficult times, I did not want to offend anyone.

“I deeply regret my actions and will accept the consequences. Joachim from Belgium.”

Prince Joachim has 15 days to pay the fine, in which case this amount will be halved.

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

Spain has reported the sixth-highest number of cases around the world, but in recent weeks has begun to ease lockdown restrictions.

Spain’s deconfinement plan ends on June 21 and a period of “new normality” will be ushered in as the country tries to get its economy back on track without it leading to another COVID-19 outbreak.

Prince Joachim is not alone in contracting coronavirus, as Prince Charles was confirmed to have tested positive for the virus in March.

Princess Claire, the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium also tested positive for the virus in March.

Prince Laurent told news outlet Nieuwsblad: “Six months ago we were hit because Claire became seriously ill, a lingering illness as they call it. Then on top of that, she was diagnosed with Corona in March.”

Princess Marie-Thérèse of Bourbon-Parma became the first royal to die after contracting the virus, albeit she was from a non-reigning family.

Prince Albert of Monaco, 62, was confirmed to be the first head of state to have tested positive for the virus.

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