Belgium’s Prince Laurent has legally recognized 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son and heir. The former car salesman, born from a relationship between the royal and singer Wendy Van Wanten (real name Iris Vandenkerckhove), was quietly brought into the prince’s family at a town hall ceremony six months ago, though the details have only just emerged.
While Vandenkerckhove now holds the title of prince, he will not receive a royal allowance. Under changes to Belgian law in 2013, public funds are limited to King Philippe, King Albert II, Prince Laurent, and Princess Astrid.
The young prince has had time to adjust to the idea of royal parentage. He recently told Het Nieuwsblad he is undecided about adopting his father’s surname, Saxe-Coburg, saying, “I might want to do that, but I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove.” He added that using his father’s name would be a betrayal of his mother’s sacrifices.
Vandenkerckhove will not feature in Belgium’s line of succession, nor will he take part in public royal activities, distinguishing him from his half-sister Princess Louise and half-brothers Prince Aymeric and Prince Nicolas.
The 26-year-old has been the subject of a Flemish TV documentary last September, in which he described discovering his father’s identity. The revelation came after he unexpectedly met Prince Laurent in a shopping centre in 2013, not knowing who he was. His mother only disclosed the truth when he was 16.
Four years after that chance encounter, Vandenkerckhove found the courage to reach out. After several calls, they met in person, and Prince Laurent suggested a DNA test. “He went first so I’d feel at ease,” Vandenkerckhove recalled. The test confirmed a 99.5% genetic match, establishing the biological connection.
The case mirrors the legacy of King Albert II, who also underwent DNA testing following a prolonged paternity battle. In 2020, the former king admitted fathering a daughter, Delphine Boël, who now calls herself Delphine de Saxe-Coburg after winning a court battle for the title.
King Albert II abdicated in 2013 as the paternity issue threatened to become a royal scandal, leading to reforms that restricted public allowances to a narrow circle of senior royals.
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