Prince Laurent has legally recognised his secret love child, meaning Belgium has a new Prince.
Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, who is a former car salesman, is Laurent's son from his relationship with Flemish model Wendy van Wanten, before his marriage to Princess Claire in 2003.
Last September, a documentary aired on Flemish TV channel VTM titled Clement, Son of… in which the new royal identified himself as the Prince's son. He recalled his mother telling him when he was 16: "Your daddy is a Prince."
Clément was officially declared as Laurent's son and heir in a town hall ceremony six months ago, with details only now being made public.
© Instagram / @clement_vandenkerckhoveHowever, he will not receive a royal allowance and won't be part of the royal line of succession.
Though he has the option to change his surname to Saxe-Coburg, he is not expected to do so.
He told Nieuwsblad: "I am proud of the Vandenkerckhove surname. To renounce that surname would be a betrayal of everything my mother has done for me."
Prince Laurent acknowledges his secret son
Laurent, 62, first acknowledged that Clément was his son after the documentary aired last year, and shortly afterwards they were pictured together for the first time.
© Olivier MatthysThe Belgian royal said in a statement at the time: "With this announcement, I acknowledge that I am the biological father of Clément Vandenkerckhove. We have spoken openly and honestly about this in recent years. This announcement is based on a sense of understanding and respect for those involved. It is the result of joint consultation.
"I kindly request that you receive this information with the discretion that the nature of this intimate matter requires. I will not make any further statements or provide any further explanation on this matter."
Prince Laurent's children and relationships
Laurent is the younger brother of King Philippe of Belgium and the son of former King Albert, who abdicated the throne in 2013 after his own paternity scandal.
In 2020, Albert admitted that he was the father of artist Delphine Boël following a seven-year legal battle.
Laurent has three children with Princess Claire: Princess Louise, Prince Aymeric, and Prince Nicolas.
© GettyClément first met his father in a shopping centre in 2013 but didn't realise who he was. When he was 16, his mother Wendy – whose real name is Iris Vandenkerckhove – revealed his father's true identity, and four years later he made contact with him, later confirming the paternity via a DNA test.
They now have a strong relationship and often go out to eat together at restaurants.
"If I call my dad and ask, 'Shall we do something tomorrow?' he always makes time for me... Honestly, my life couldn't be better right now," Clément said.
