Full Breakdown
Prince Laurent Officially Recognizes Secret Son as Belgian Prince
8/21/2026, 11:29:06 AM
Legal Recognition of Clément Vandenkerckhove
In February 2026, Prince Laurent — younger brother of King Philippe — completed a civil registration that formally acknowledged 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his biological son. The town-hall ceremony, first reported by *Soir Mag*, granted Vandenkerckhove the title “Prince of Belgium” and placed him on an equal footing with Laurent’s three children from his marriage to Princess Claire. Under the 2015 royal decree, all descendants of former King Albert II may use the style “His Royal Highness” and the title Prince or Princess, regardless of legitimacy.
Background and Recent Royal Paternity Issues
The acknowledgement follows earlier paternity settlements in the Belgian royal family. In 2020, former King Albert II recognized an illegitimate daughter, Delphine Boël, after a legal battle that began in 2019. That episode prompted a 2013 constitutional amendment limiting royal allowances to the monarch and the direct heir.
Key Figures
- Prince Laurent — Prince of Belgium, younger brother of King Philippe; publicly acknowledged Vandenkerckhove in 2025.
- Clément Vandenkerckhove — born 2000 to Belgian singer-model Iris Vandenkerckhove (stage name Wendy Van Wanten); former car salesman; now Prince Clément.
- Princess Claire — Laurent’s wife since 2003; mother of Princess Louise and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.
- Wendy Van Wanten (Iris Vandenkerckhove) — model, actress, and singer; Laurent’s partner in the 1990s.
Data and Legal Implications
- Title: Prince Clément may use “His Royal Highness” and the princely style.
- Inheritance: The registration gives him an equal share of Laurent’s private estate alongside his three half-siblings.
- Line of Succession: He is excluded because succession is limited to children born within a marriage approved by the government.
- Royal Allowance: He receives no public funding; the 2013 law reserves allowances for the monarch and the heir apparent.
Official Statements & Responses
Prince Laurent issued a written statement confirming his paternity, emphasizing that “open and honest conversations” had taken place in recent years and requesting discretion regarding the matter.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We went to the hospital together and I remember him saying ‘I’ll go first so you’re feeling at ease,'” — Clément Vandenkerckhove
- “What matters most to me right now is that I am a son who is allowed to get to know his father,” — Clément Vandenkerckhove
- “I have a very good relationship with my father now,” — Prince Clément
Impact and Public Reaction
Clément said the recognition eases the anxiety he felt after learning at 16 that his father was a prince. He stresses pride in retaining the Vandenkerckhove surname, describing a change to “Saxe-Coburg” as a betrayal of his mother’s legacy. The father and son now share regular outings, including meals in Brussels.
Although the new title carries no official duties, the move shows the Belgian monarchy’s willingness to regularize private matters through formal legal channels while adhering to constitutional limits on succession and public funding.
