Key facts
- Prince Laurent of Belgium has legally recognized 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son.
- Vandenkerckhove, the result of a relationship between Prince Laurent and singer Wendy Van Wanten, was brought into the royal family six months ago.
- He will formally become a prince but will not receive a royal allowance.
- Vandenkerckhove will not be part of Belgium's royal line of succession.
- Prince Laurent's father, former King Albert II, also faced a lengthy paternity battle and recognized his daughter Delphine Boël as his own.
Prince Laurent of Belgium has officially recognized 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son, a development that has recently come to light. Vandenkerckhove, a former car salesman, was brought into Prince Laurent's family six months ago through a town hall ceremony. While he will now formally be known as a prince, he will not receive a royal allowance and will not be part of Belgium's royal line of succession, unlike his half-siblings Princess Louise, Prince Aymeric, and Prince Nicolas.
Vandenkerckhove, whose mother is Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten (Iris Vandenkerckhove), learned of his royal father's identity at age 16. He met Prince Laurent unexpectedly in 2013 and later initiated contact, leading to a DNA test that confirmed a 99.5% match. Prince Laurent suggested the DNA test after Vandenkerckhove contacted him four years later.
This situation echoes a similar paternity case involving Prince Laurent's father, former King Albert II, who eventually recognized his daughter Delphine Boël after a lengthy legal battle and DNA test. Albert II abdicated in 2013, and under changes to Belgian law, only a few senior royals are entitled to public allowances.