Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Prince Laurent’s previously secret son, Clément Vandenkerckhove, has spoken publicly for the first time since his biological father formally recognised him, saying he is relieved that he no longer has to conceal his origins.
The statements from the 26-year-old came after he was registered in a civil procedure confirming his relation to Prince Laurent, who is the brother of the King of Belgium, King Philippe. The registration also meant that Clément got the title Prince of Belgium, even though he will neither be in line for the Belgian throne nor perform any royal functions.
Clément shared his reaction in an Instagram post after news of the recognition emerged in Belgium.
“The fact that I no longer have to keep my origins a secret is a process I am still coming to terms with. But I am grateful for the warm reactions,”
he wrote.
His statements reflected not only a feeling of relief but also confusion as he gets used to the sudden change of his status in the eyes of the general public. Not long ago, Clément led a life that kept him away from media attention and, according to some reports, he was working as a car salesman in Flanders.
What led to Prince Laurent’s recognition?
This recognition came after years of rumors about the involvement of Prince Laurent in a relationship with Belgian singer, model, and actress Iris Vandenkerckhove whose stage name is Wendy Van Wanten. Belgian press have been speculating for years about the involvement of the prince and the lady in a romantic relationship in the 1990s before Laurent’s marriage. Van Wanten is quoted saying that she indeed met Laurent in Paris in 1995 but that their relationship remained discreet.
Clément was born in 2000 while Laurent had not married his wife Claire Coombs. On April 12, 2003, the couple got married in Brussels and thus Claire became Princess Claire of Belgium. The royal couple has three children namely Princess Louise and Prince Nicolas and Aymeric. After years of rumors, Prince Laurent recognized Clément as his biological son in September 2025. In September 2025, the prince made it clear that he had made the recognition after honest conversations.
“With this message, I acknowledge that I am the biological father of Clément Vandenkerckhove,”
Prince Laurent said in a statement. He added that the process had been guided by
“a sense of understanding and respect for those involved.”
The formal legal step was reportedly completed before a civil registrar in February 2026. Clément was present and signed the relevant documents. The development became public in August through Belgian media reports, including coverage by Soir Mag.
What title and rights does Clément receive?
Now that Laurent has been officially recognized as a son, Clément has the status of Prince of Belgium since he belongs to the lineage of the late King Albert II of Belgium, who fathered Prince Laurent. According to Belgian constitutional law expert Christian Behrendt, the title came naturally from the family connection. The title cannot confer Clément the right to inherit the Belgian Throne, though, for the reason that there are some prerequisites set by Belgium’s constitution regarding succession, particularly on the matter of the monarch’s lineage, including those pertaining to marriage consent.
Therefore, even though Clément is legally a prince, he does not have any claim to the throne. The recognition could also grant him the right to inherit property from Prince Laurent’s personal property. It has been reported that he will have equal rights to inheritance alongside Laurent’s three offspring with Princess Claire.
Clément is not expected to receive a public allocation or carry out official royal responsibilities. His recognition gives him a legal and dynastic identity, but not a formal position within the Belgian state.
How does the case compare with Delphine Boël?
The closest precedent is the case of Delphine Boël, the daughter of former King Albert II and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps.
The details regarding Albert’s alleged relationship and child became public in 1999 when the unauthorised biography of Queen Paola was released. Boël filed a case against Albert in 2013 in order to prove that he was her biological father. Initially reluctant to face the case, Albert had to submit himself to take a DNA test. The results proved the connection between them in January 2020, and Boël became officially recognised by Albert as his daughter.
On 1st of October 2020, she was legally recognised as part of the Belgian royal family and received the title “Princess of Belgium”. She also received the dynasty name Saxe-Coburg. While Clément could easily get into the family without having to engage in any sort of struggle, Boël had to go through a long legal process that took her about seven years to win. King Philippe met her in October 2020 after she was legally recognised.
Both cases involve children born outside royal marriages who eventually gained legal recognition and royal titles. The major difference is that Clément’s case appears to have been settled privately, while Boël’s recognition followed a high-profile court battle and DNA proceedings.
