Dutch King and Queen apologise for not following social distancing rules on Greek holiday

'In the spontaneity of the moment, we didn’t pay enough attention', the royals said

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands. Getty Images

The King and Queen of the Netherlands have apologised for not adhering to social distancing measures during a recent holiday to Greece.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima issued the personal apology on Twitter after an image shared on social media showed the pair posing with a member of staff at a restaurant they visited during a trip to the Greek island of Milos.

The picture shows the royals close to a member of the restaurant's staff – not the 1.5 metres apart recommended under Dutch social distancing rules – without wearing face masks.

“A photo appeared in the media in which we didn’t keep enough social distance. In the spontaneity of the moment, we didn’t pay enough attention to that. Of course, we should have,” a tweet from the official account of the Royal House of the Netherlands sent on Monday, August 24 reads. “Compliance with coronavirus rules is essential on holiday as well to get the virus under control.”

The tweet is signed ”WA & Maxima”, indicating it is a personal message from the King and Queen of the Netherlands.

An employee of the restaurant confirmed to Dutch television service RTL Nieuws that the picture was “a mistake” and had been taken for a private album.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima had been holidaying along with their daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.