Belgian Car Salesman Legally Becomes Prince After Royal Parentage Confirmed

Clément Vandenkerckhove, previously a car salesman, has officially been acknowledged as the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium. This significant development, confirmed through a DNA test, took place quietly at a town hall ceremony six months prior, though details have only recently surfaced.

Vandenkerckhove, whose mother is Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten, will now hold the title of prince. However, he will not receive a royal allowance nor will he be included in Belgium’s line of succession. He also stated he is not yet certain if he will adopt his father’s surname, Saxe-Coburg, expressing pride in his current family name.

This situation draws parallels to Prince Laurent’s own father, former King Albert II, who also faced a paternity dispute that led to him acknowledging a daughter, Delphine Boël, as his own after a lengthy legal battle. Boël, an artist, now uses the title Princess Delphine de Saxe-Coburg.

Vandenkerckhove’s journey to this point was detailed in a Flemish TV documentary. He first met Prince Laurent unexpectedly in 2013, only learning of his father’s royal identity at age 16. After years of contact, including a DNA test confirming a 99.5% match, the royal recognition occurred.

While Vandenkerckhove will not partake in public royal duties, his father, Prince Laurent, remains one of the few royal family members entitled to a public allowance under current Belgian law, alongside King Philippe, King Albert II, and Princess Astrid.

Source: Nile Post