Prince Laurent of Belgium has caused a royal scandal after revealing he attended celebrations to mark the founding of the Chinese army.

The prince, who is the younger brother of King Philippe, posted photos of himself attending the event online despite being banned by Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Mr Michel issued a decree last December barring Prince Laurent from attending any talks with senior foreign officials without informing the government after a series of controversial meetings, including with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Prince Laurent of Belgium will be fined by the government after he attended a celebration to mark the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army that the country's embassy in Brussels despite being banned from doing so

The prince was banned from attending talks with foreign officials without informing parliament last year after a series of controversial meetings. Ministers only discovered he went to the Chinese event after he posted pictures of it on Twitter

The Prime Minister warned Prince Laurent at the time that his €308,000-per-year (£280,000) salary was at risk, and is now thought to be mulling a fine of up to €30,000 (£28,000).

The celebration marking the founding of the People's Liberation Army was held at the Chinese embassy in Brussels on 19th July, but it was not known at the time that the prince had attended.

Controversy began this week after the prince, who is married to British-born Princess Claire, a former surveyor, a posted images of the event on Twitter.

Belgian PM Charles Michel reportedly called King Philippe yesterday to announce that he would cut Prince Laurent's stipend.

King Philippe did not argue against the unusual measure by Mr Michel, who told King Philippe he was 'irritated' by Prince Laurent's behaviour, reports said.

Prince Laurent said he was there on 'a personal invitation'' which 'is of nobody's business.'

This is hardly the first time the prince has stirred controversy, after telling a journalist who questioned the finances of his renewable energy ventures that he was 'starting to p*** me off'.

Prince Laurent has been at the centre of multiple royal scandals down the years and was asked to repay €16,000 last year after it was found he spent the money on a ski holiday, school bills for his children, local media reports

'If certain politicians would get off my back, if my family would get off my back, I could show you that these accounts are positive,' he said.

He was also asked to repay €16,000 last year after it was found he spent the money on a ski holiday, school bills for his children, and supermarket shopping, De Standaard reports.

Belgian MPs pressed Michel to cut Prince Laurent's stipend, though no official announcement has yet been made.

MP Peter Buysrogge of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party said: 'It cannot be that Laurent is receiving tax money and still completely does whatever he wants like a loose cannon.'

Not only are politicians increasingly worried by the maverick prince's behaviour, but King Philippe himself is worried that Prince Laurent's actions have tarnished the reputation of the royal family, reports said.

Last year he decided that Prince Laurent's children were not allowed to carry the suffix 'van België', meaning 'of Belgium'.

Prince Laurent's involvement in animal welfare and environmental issues, as well as him ignoring protocol, have earned Laurent the nickname of 'ecolo-gaffeur' ('the eco-blunderer').

The prince was also named in a corruption scandal and is known for his love of speed, having racked up several speeding tickets.