A former Belgian car salesman has found himself at the centre of a remarkable royal story after being formally recognised as the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium.
Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, has officially become a Prince of Belgium following a private legal ceremony in which Prince Laurent formally established him as his son.
The recognition was reportedly completed at a town hall around six months ago, but details only became public this week.
The development brings an extraordinary chapter in Vandenkerckhove’s life to a close. For years, his parentage was surrounded by speculation before Prince Laurent publicly acknowledged him in 2025.
A subsequent DNA test reportedly showed a 99.5% probability that Laurent was his biological father.
A secret that followed Clément for years
Vandenkerckhove was born in 2000 to Belgian singer and former model Iris Vandenkerckhove, better known by her stage name Wendy Van Wanten.
His mother’s relationship with Prince Laurent dates back to the 1990s, when the Belgian royal was not yet married to Claire Coombs.
The pair were reportedly linked for several years, although their relationship was never officially confirmed at the time.
Rumours about Vandenkerckhove’s father began circulating from around the time of his birth. However, the truth remained private for much of his childhood.
According to reports, Vandenkerckhove learned more about his possible royal background when he was 16.
The mystery surrounding his father eventually became public, and he later underwent a DNA test that provided strong evidence linking him to Prince Laurent.
In September 2025, Laurent publicly acknowledged that Vandenkerckhove was his son, ending years of speculation.
From ordinary working life to royal title
Before his royal identity was formally established, Vandenkerckhove lived a relatively ordinary life and worked as a car salesman.
His new status dramatically changes his legal position within Belgium’s royal family.
The formal recognition means he is now entitled to the title of Prince of Belgium and has inheritance rights alongside Laurent’s three other children, Princess Louise and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.
However, becoming a prince does not mean Vandenkerckhove will suddenly take on official royal duties.
Reports indicate that he will not receive a state allowance, will not have official royal responsibilities and will not become eligible to inherit the Belgian throne.
His position is therefore very different from that of the immediate members of the Belgian royal family who undertake public duties on behalf of the monarchy.
He may keep his mother’s surname
Despite receiving a royal title, Vandenkerckhove has reportedly been reluctant to abandon the surname he has carried throughout his life.
Rather than immediately adopting the Saxe-Coburg family name, he has expressed pride in the Vandenkerckhove name and his connection to his mother.
For Vandenkerckhove, the emotional significance of finally having his father officially recognised appears to go beyond royal status or financial benefits.
His relationship with Laurent has reportedly grown in recent years, with the two sharing conversations, meals and a mutual interest in cars, an especially fitting connection given Vandenkerckhove’s previous career in the automobile industry.
Another Belgian royal paternity saga
Vandenkerckhove’s story also echoes another major paternity controversy involving the Belgian royal family.
Prince Laurent is the younger brother of King Philippe and the son of former King Albert II.
Albert II himself eventually acknowledged Delphine Boël as his daughter following years of controversy and a lengthy legal battle.
Boël was eventually recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family and became Princess Delphine in 2020.
The two cases are not identical, but both demonstrate how questions about royal parentage can have consequences extending far beyond private family matters.
A new chapter for Belgium’s royal family
Prince Laurent’s recognition of Vandenkerckhove adds another member to a Belgian royal family that has repeatedly attracted international attention because of its complex family history.
For the 26-year-old, however, the biggest change may not be the title itself.
After spending much of his life outside the royal spotlight, Vandenkerckhove now has official confirmation of his place in the family from which his identity had long been separated.
His transformation from a car salesman living an ordinary life to a formally recognised Belgian prince is one of the more unusual modern royal stories, but despite the title, he is expected to remain largely outside the public-facing duties of the monarchy.
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