Belgian car salesman becomes prince after royal parentage confirmed

Belgium’s Prince Lau­rent has legally recognised 26-year-old former car salesman Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son. Vandenkerckhove, born from Laurent’s relationship with singer Wendy Van Wanten, was brought into the prince’s family at a town hall ceremony months ago. While he formally becomes a prince, he will not receive a royal allowance or join Belgium’s line of succession.

Vandenkerckhove said recently he was unsure whether he would begin using his father’s name, Saxe-Coburg. “I might want to do that, but I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.

He featured in a Flemish TV documentary last September, in which he described meeting Laurent in a shopping centre in 2013, unaware of his identity. His mother revealed his father’s identity when he was 16. Four years later, Vandenkerckhove contacted Laurent. They eventually met, and Laurent suggested a DNA test. The laboratory later confirmed a 99.5% match.

Laurent’s test recalls that of his father, former King Albert II, who recognised daughter Delphine Boël after a lengthy paternity battle. Unlike his half-sister Princess Louise and half-brothers Prince Aymeric and Prince Nicolas, Vanden­kerckhove will remain outside public royal duties and the succession.