- On December 9,
Princess Beatrice , 32, was spotted dining indoors at a restaurant inLondon with fivepeople living in multiple households. - London at the time was under a Tier 2
lockdown , which prohibits people from gathering indoors with people outside of their own household. - According to the Mirror, representatives for the royal said the dinner was business-related and "was held in compliance with all government guidelines."
On December 9, Princess Beatrice, the Duchess of York, was spotted at Isabel, a restaurant in London, with five others, according to The Sun.
At the same time, London has been in a Tier 2 lockdown, which means only members of the same household are allowed to gather together indoors, according to the government's website.
Beatrice, 32, was with her husband, Edoardo Mozzi, 37, and three others, who live in multiple households, according to The Sun, which posted a video clip of the dinner.
Since the video was posted, the
At the time of writing, the UK has confirmed 1,893,364 positive coronavirus cases, according to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker.
Recently, London's infection rate has been rising rapidly, according to AP. Less than a week after the dinner, London officials announced the city would enter a Tier 3 lockdown on Wednesday.
Beatrice's office stated that the dinner was 'work-related'
Under London's Tier 2 lockdown, people should only gather indoors with people from their household.
There are exceptions for work purposes but they "are only allowed where they are reasonably necessary," the government's website states.
A spokesperson for the couple told the Mirror that it was a business dinner that followed the government's guidelines.
"This was a midweek Wednesday evening, work-related, business development dinner. It was held in compliance with all government guidelines. The dinner was held in the early evening and all parties left in good time before the government curfew," a spokesperson for the couple told the Mirror.
Additionally, the spokesperson added that "strict masks were worn in line with the government advice."
Peter Dundas, a designer and friend, attended the dinner, according to The Sun and the Mirror. Following the dinner, Dundas posted a photograph with the princess from the dinner.
"Catching up with this lovely," the Instagram post's caption reads.
While both were wearing masks, Beatrice and Dundas are in close proximity and not social distancing.
The government's website urges people to stay six feet apart from people you do not live with or three feet "with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)."
Diners at the restaurant thought the princess 'should be setting a better example'
One diner told The Sun, "Bea should be setting a better example. I couldn't believe my eyes. If the Royal Family can't get coronavirus rules right, what hope for the rest of us?"
Beatrice is not a working royal, which means she isn't paid to represent the royal family. Instead, she works as a "business matchmaker," where she connects startups with potential investors.
Princess Beatrice is not the first royal to receive criticism for her actions during the lockdown.
Earlier this month, Prince William and Kate Middleton were accused of breaking lockdown when they traveled to Scotland for a royal tour.
Representatives for Princess Beatrice did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
- Read more:
- The fabulous life of Princess Beatrice, who is worth $4.6 million, vacations with Karlie Kloss, and just married her businessman boyfriend in a secret ceremony
- Princess Beatrice just married the son of an Italian count in a secret royal wedding. Meet Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a property tycoon and single dad who just became the newest royal spouse.
- 10 details you may have missed from Princess Beatrice's secret royal wedding