Cinderella story: 26-year-old car salesman discovered to be a Belgian prince
Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old car salesman, was officially recognized as the son of Prince Laurent following a DNA test and a discreet procedure at the city hall. He was born from an affair the prince had with a local actress in the nineties, before his marriage. The young man will now receive the title of "prince" and a share of the inheritance, but will not be included in the line of succession to the throne or receive an allowance. Despite the new status, Clement clarifies: "I will continue to carry my mother's name, it would be a betrayal to give it up."
A historical drama in the Belgian royal house sounds like the plot of a modern fairy tale. Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old who works as a car salesman, was recently officially recognized as the son of Prince Laurent, the younger brother of the reigning King of Belgium, Philippe. The recognition came after a DNA test definitively confirmed the biological connection between the two. The official registration of paternity took place in a discreet ceremony at the city hall back in February of this year, but the fact was only revealed to the public now.
Clement's story is the result of an affair that Prince Laurent had in the nineties with the Belgian singer and actress Iris Vandenkerckhove. Clement was born in 2000, about three years before the prince entered into marriage with his wife, Princess Claire. The young man only discovered the identity of his biological father when he was 16, and four years later he chose to take a brave step and contacted him. The current recognition is the result of open and honest conversations that took place between father and son in recent years, when the prince agreed to Clement's request to perform the DNA test.
Despite the official recognition and the new title granted to him, Clement announced firmly that he has no intention of adopting the name of his father's royal dynasty, Saxe-Coburg. He clarifies that he will continue to carry his mother's surname with pride. According to him, he is proud of the name Vandenkerckhove and feels that if he were to give it up, it would be a betrayal of everything his mother did for him over the years.
A prince's title without a crown
Following the legal ruling, Vandenkerckhove will indeed receive the title of "prince," but will not enjoy other public royal rights. According to a royal decree from 2015 and Belgian law, only heirs born within a marriage approved by a government decree are allowed to be included in the line of succession to the throne. For this reason, Clement will not be included in the line of succession, will not receive an allowance from state tax money, will not represent the royal house, and will not participate in official events.
However, the recognition has civil legal significance in the private sphere. Clement is now entitled to an equal share in Prince Laurent's private inheritance, just like his three half-siblings from the prince's official marriage — Princess Louise and Princes Nicolas and Aymeric.
