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From car salesman to prince: 26-year-old officially recognized as son of Prince Laurent of Belgium

2026-08-20 23:39:11Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
From car salesman to prince: 26-year-old officially recognized as son of Prince
He was a car salesman, now he's a prince

A 26-year-old Belgian has gone from working as a car salesman to a life within the royal family after being legally recognized as the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium.

Clément Vandenkerckhove, born from Prince Laurent's relationship with Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten, has been officially recognized as his son and heir. The recognition ceremony took place discreetly in a town hall about six months ago, while the news has only now been made public.

With the official recognition, Vandenkerckhove receives the title of prince, but will not receive payment from public funds and will not be part of the line of succession to the Belgian throne. He is also not expected to participate in public activities of the royal family.

Despite his new status, the 26-year-old is unsure whether he will use the aristocratic surname Saxe-Coburg, which is associated with the Belgian royal family.

"I may want to do this, but I am proud of the surname Vandenkerckhove," he told Het Nieuwsblad.

According to him, giving up his mother's surname would be "a betrayal of everything my mother has done for me."

He learned his father's identity at the age of 16.

His story is even more unusual. Clément said that in 2013, when he was still a child, he accidentally met Prince Laurent in a shopping mall, without knowing that he was his father.

Only at the age of 16 did his mother reveal his father's identity.

Four years later, Clément plucked up the courage to call Prince Laurent. After several communications, the two met and it was the prince himself who proposed a DNA test.

The two went to the hospital together and the analysis confirmed a 99.5% DNA match.

His story also became known to the Belgian public through a television documentary broadcast last year.

From car salesman to prince: 26-year-old officially recognized as son of Prince

A story that repeats itself in the royal family

Clément's case bears a strong resemblance to the story of Prince Laurent's father, former King Albert II.

Albert II also faced a long legal battle over paternity. In 2020, he admitted to having a daughter from an extramarital affair and officially recognized Delphine Boël as his daughter, who then gained the right to the title of princess.

While Clément is already a prince, he has no claim to the Belgian throne and will have no official role in the public life of the monarchy.


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