Belgian car salesman becomes prince after royal paternity confirmed

A 26-year-old Belgian car salesman has been formally recognized as a prince after his father, Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe, officially acknowledged him as his son. Clément Vandenkerckhove was legally registered as Laurent's child and heir at a quiet town hall ceremony in February 2026, a fact that only became public knowledge in August. The recognition grants him the title of prince and equal inheritance rights to his father's private estate, but he will not receive a royal allowance, undertake official duties, or enter the line of succession to the Belgian throne.

The formal paternity registration followed a public acknowledgment by Prince Laurent in September 2025. Vandenkerckhove had learned the identity of his biological father at age 16 from his mother, Belgian singer and model Iris Vandenkerckhove, who performs under the name Wendy Van Wanten. She and Prince Laurent had a high-profile relationship in the 1990s before the prince married Princess Claire in 2003. Four years after learning the truth, Vandenkerckhove contacted the prince, and the pair eventually underwent a DNA test that showed a 99.5 percent match.

Vandenkerckhove described the years of...