[REVISION HISTORY]

Recognition of Prince Laurent’s son

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2026-08-22 23:37 UTC → 2026-08-24 09:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Prince Laurent of Belgium has formally recognized Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son. The recognition follows a DNA test that confirmed a 99.5 percent match between the Prince and Vandenkerckhove, who was born in August 2000 from a relationship between Prince Laurent and singer Wendy Van Wanten. Although the legal recognition was finalized during a civil ceremony approximately six months ago, the details have only recently become public. As a result of this recognition, Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old former car salesman, is entitled to the title of Prince and holds equal inheritance rights to Prince Laurent’s private estate alongside his half-siblings, Princess Louise, Prince Nicolas, and Prince Aymeric. Reports indicate that Vandenkerckhove’s mother revealed his true parentage to him when he was 16 years old. After establishing contact with Prince Laurent, a DNA test was conducted to confirm the biological relationship. However, the recognition does not grant him an official public role, a royal allowance from the state, or a place in the Belgian line of succession. Regarding his surname, Vandenkerckhove has expressed pride in his current name and stated that abandoning it would feel like ‘a betrayal of his mother,’ leaving him undecided on whether to adopt the Saxe-Coburg family name.

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