Outrage at Belgium's Prince Joachim, 28, as he catches coronavirus after flying 1050 miles to Spain to attend a party with his girlfriend and 26 others in breach of lockdown

A Belgian prince has been diagnosed with coronavirus just days after attending a private party in Spain which breached social distancing rules. 

Prince Joachim, the nephew of King Philippe of Belgium and ninth in line to the throne, attended the party on Tuesday in a private house in the city of Cordoba.

The prince, 28, had arrived in Madrid two days earlier for a business trip but then took a high-speed train to Cordoba, where his long-term girlfriend Victoria Ortiz grew up.

In total, he travelled 1,050 miles from Belgium to Cordoba. 

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Prince Joachim of Belgium (pictured middle) has been diagnosed with coronavirus a few days after attending a private party which broke lockdown rules in Cordoba, Spain

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The prince (pictured) is the nephew of King Phillipe of Belgium and is ninth in line to the throne

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The prince, 28, travelled to Madrid on a business trip on Sunday but then took a high-speed train to Cordoba (pictured) on Tuesday

According to Spanish news outlet El Pais, 27 people attended the private party, which is nearly double the number of people (15) currently allowed to congregate under one roof in the Andalusian city. 

The same news organisation says the Belgian Royal Household confirmed that Prince Joachim attended the party.

All the guests who attended the party are now in quarantine, while it is not clear whether the prince contracted the virus at the party or whether he already had the virus beforehand.  

Prince Laurent of Belgium, another of Joachim's uncles, confirmed the virus has been contracted by at least one member of his family.

He said: 'We do not know how, but the coronavirus has entered our household.'

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In Cordoba (pictured) there is a regional social limit of just 15 people under one roof. The party was attended by 27 guests, all of whom are now in quarantine 

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Spanish authorities confirmed on Saturday that the prince (pictured) was at the event and have branded the staging of the social occasion as 'completely irresponsible' and 'unforgivable'

'For weeks now, we have hardly gone out – only to shop and for sports.' 

The party has been branded as 'completely irresponsible' by Spanish authorities, with police in the country investigating the party.

Those found guilty of breaking lockdown restrictions could face fines of between 600 and 10,000 euros. 

Speaking about the party, Rafaela Valenzuela, the Spanish government's sub-delegate in Cordoba, said: 'I feel surprised and indignant, given that at a moment of national mourning for so many dead, an incident of this type stands out. 

'It's completely irresponsible, because that number of people multiplied could cause an outbreak, and that would mean that Córdoba, after passing to Phase 2, would have to take a step back.

'That is unforgivable. The police are investigating not just the observance of confinement measures, but also the breaking of other rules, given that we are still under a state of alarm. The virus is still out there.'