A Belgian car salesman has gone from ordinary life to royal status after Prince Laurent formally recognised him as his son, bringing a long-hidden paternity story into the Belgian royal family.Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, is the son of Prince Laurent and Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten. The relationship between Laurent and Van Wanten took place before the prince married Princess Claire in 2003.Vandenkerckhove was quietly brought into Laurent’s family at a town hall ceremony six months ago, although details of his new status have only now emerged.Vandenkerckhove had known for years that Laurent was his biological father. His mother revealed the identity to him when he was 16, and four years later he contacted the prince himself.The pair eventually underwent a DNA test together, which showed a 99.5% match, according to Vandenkerckhove’s account in a Flemish TV documentary.Although the recognition makes him a prince, Vandenkerckhove will not enter the Belgian line of succession, unlike Laurent’s other children, Princess Louise, Prince Aymeric and Prince Nicolas.He will also not undertake official royal duties or receive a royal allowance.He has said he is unsure whether he will adopt the royal family name, Saxe-Coburg, saying he remains proud of his mother’s surname, Vandenkerckhove.The story mirrors that of Laurent’s father, former King Albert II, who was forced to undergo a DNA test after a lengthy paternity dispute.Albert eventually acknowledged artist Delphine Boël as his daughter in 2020, after years of legal battles. She subsequently received the title of princess and adopted the name Delphine de Saxe-Coburg.Belgian law limits public royal allowances to only a handful of members of the royal family, including King Philippe, former King Albert II, Prince Laurent and Princess Astrid.
