Belgian royal family formally recognizes 26-year-old as a prince

Clément Vandenkerckhove, the son of Prince Laurent and singer Wendy Van Wanten, has been granted the title but will have no place in the line of succession or an official public role

Clément Vandenkerckhove went from selling cars to becoming a prince at the age of 26, after Belgium’s royal family formally recognized him as the son of Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe.

Vandenkerckhove was born from Laurent’s relationship with singer Wendy Van Wanten. His recognition as a member of the Belgian royal family took place about six months ago during a ceremony at a municipal hall, although the news only became public recently, according to the BBC.

Vandenkerckhove learned who his father was when he was 16. Several years later, he contacted Laurent, who proposed a DNA test. The test confirmed Laurent’s paternity with a 99.5% match.

The recognition gives Vandenkerckhove the formal title of prince, but it does not place him in the line of succession to the Belgian throne. He will also have no official role in royal activities and will not receive a royal allowance.

It remains unclear whether he will adopt his father’s family name, Saxe-Coburg. Vandenkerckhove has said he is proud of the surname he currently carries and does not want to give up the name of the family that raised him.

His new status therefore changes his formal standing within Belgium’s royal family without altering his position in the succession or giving him an official public role.

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