Belgium’s Prince Laurent has formally recognized 26-year-old former car salesman Clément Vandenkerckhove as his secret son and heir, granting him the title of prince during a quiet town hall ceremony, according to reports from The Telegraph and Hello Magazine. The 63-year-old royal, who is the younger brother of King Philippe, legally established paternity roughly six months ago, though details of the registration only recently emerged from Soir Mag, as noted by Town & Country.
Legal Recognition and Royal Status
Clément Vandenkerckhove now holds equal inheritance rights to Prince Laurent’s private estate alongside his half-sister Princess Louise, 20, and half-brothers Prince Nicolas, 20, and Prince Aymeric, 19, according to The Telegraph. Despite his new title, Town & Country reports that he will not receive a public royal allowance, as state funding is strictly limited to the monarch and the direct heir to the throne. Furthermore, he will not undertake official duties or gain any rights to the Belgian throne. Under a 2015 royal decree cited by Town & Country, all children and grandchildren of former King Albert II are permitted to use the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium along with the style of Royal Highness.
From Dealership to Royal Family Tree
Before his royal lineage became public, Vandenkerckhove worked as a car salesman at an Opel dealership in Deinze, maintaining a quiet life far from the spotlight of the Belgian monarchy, according to Het Nieuwsblad and reported by The Telegraph. He studied graphic design and developed interests in fast cars and horses. The royal secret finally surfaced in September when Vandenkerckhove appeared in a VTM documentary titled Clement, Son of…, where he publicly confirmed his relationship to the prince. He was born in August 2000 to Belgian singer and socialite Wendy Van Wanten—whose real name is Iris Vandenkerckhove—following a high-profile relationship with Prince Laurent in the 1990s after the pair met at a Paris fashion show, according to The Telegraph and Hello Magazine.
Did you know? Clément Vandenkerckhove actually crossed paths with Prince Laurent at a shopping center in Deinze in 2013, years before knowing the prince was his biological father, as reported by The Telegraph.
DNA Confirmation and Family Precedents
Vandenkerckhove learned of his true parentage from his mother when he was 16 years old, according to Hello Magazine. Four years later, he contacted the prince directly, and the two completed a DNA test that showed a 99.5 percent match, as detailed by The Telegraph. Prince Laurent subsequently issued a statement confirming that Vandenkerckhove is his biological son, stating they had engaged in “open and honest conversations” over recent years, according to Hello Magazine. This development mirrors historical paternity struggles within the Belgian royal family; Prince Laurent’s father, former King Albert II, fought a prolonged legal battle before admitting in 2020 that he fathered artist Delphine Boël during an affair, a case documented by The Telegraph and Hello Magazine that eventually resulted in the title of princess and the surname de Saxe-Coburg for Boël.
Future Plans and Surname Choices
Vandenkerckhove has not yet decided whether to adopt his father’s Saxe-Coburg family name, though Town & Country notes that the formal recognition makes the change legally possible. Speaking with Het Nieuwsblad and quoted by Hello Magazine, he expressed deep loyalty to his upbringing: “I might want to do that, but I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove. If I were to sacrifice that family name, it would be a betrayal of everything my mother has done for me.” Describing his current dynamic with Prince Laurent to Town & Country, Vandenkerckhove emphasized their close bond, noting that his father frequently makes time to meet him in Brussels for lunch or dinner, adding, “Really, my life couldn’t be better right now.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Clément Vandenkerckhove?
Clément Vandenkerckhove is the 26-year-old former car salesman and graphic design student who was legally recognized as the son of Belgium’s Prince Laurent, according to The Telegraph and Hello Magazine.
Does Clément Vandenkerckhove have rights to the Belgian throne?
No. According to Hello Magazine and Town & Country, he has no place in the line of succession, will receive no public royal allowance, and will not perform official duties.
Who is Clément Vandenkerckhove’s mother?
His mother is Belgian singer, model, and socialite Iris Vandenkerckhove, professionally known as Wendy Van Wanten, who had a relationship with Prince Laurent in the 1990s, according to The Telegraph and Town & Country.
Will he change his last name to Saxe-Coburg?
While he is legally permitted to adopt the royal surname, Vandenkerckhove stated to Het Nieuwsblad that he remains proud of his mother’s surname and views changing it as a betrayal of her efforts, as reported by Hello Magazine.
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