Clément Vandenkerckhove, a 26‑year‑old Belgian car salesman, has been formally recognized as a prince after a DNA test confirmed his paternity with Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe.

Family background and DNA confirmation

Vandenkerckhove’s mother, singer Wendy Van Wanten (real name Iris Vandenkerckhove), disclosed his royal parentage when he turned 16. The claim was verified six months ago when Prince Laurent registered his paternity with Belgium’s civil registry after a hospital‑based DNA test proved the link.

Legal and inheritance implications

The civil registration grants Vandenkerckhove the same inheritance rights to Prince Laurent’s private estate as Laurent’s other children: half‑sister Princess Louise, 20, and half‑brothers Prince Nicolas, 20, and Prince Aymeric, 19, all born to Princess Claire. However, the new prince will not receive a royal allowance, will not be expected to perform official duties, and holds no claim to the Belgian throne.

Name considerations

While he could adopt the family name Saxe‑Coburg, Vandenkerckhove said he prefers to keep his own surname, stating, “I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove. To sacrifice it would betray everything my mother has done for me.”

Historical context

This is not the first instance of a hidden royal lineage emerging in Belgium. In 2020, King Philippe’s father, the former king, acknowledged a daughter from an earlier affair after a prolonged legal battle, granting her the title Princess Delphine de Saxe‑Coburg.

Public reaction

Belgian media have reported the development as a low‑key ceremony, emphasizing the personal nature of the acknowledgment rather than any shift in the monarchy’s public role.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.