Belgian car salesman’s life changes forever after royal secret is finally confirmed

For more than two decades, one Belgian man lived with a family secret that had fuelled rumours surrounding the country’s royal household. Now, after a quiet meeting at a civil registry office, his place in one of Europe’s most closely watched families has finally been put beyond doubt.

From car salesman to Belgian prince

Clement Vandenkerckhove, 26, has become entitled to the title Prince of Belgium after Prince Laurent, younger brother of King Philippe, formally recognised him as his biological son. Laurent and Clement completed the recognition at a civil registry office in February 2026. The development remained private for several months before being reported publicly on August 19.

Clement was born in August 2000 to Iris Vandenkerckhove, better known as Flemish singer and television personality Wendy Van Wanten. Laurent had a relationship with Van Wanten before marrying Princess Claire in 2003. Unlike members of the Belgian royal household who have grown up in the public eye, Clement spent much of his life away from royal circles, working as a car salesman and, reportedly, in a restaurant.

A secret that lasted for years

Rumours about Clement’s parentage circulated from around the time of his birth, but his father’s identity remained officially unconfirmed for years. Clement has said he learned when he was 16 that Prince Laurent was his biological father, and the pair grew closer gradually as he reached adulthood. Laurent himself later suggested a DNA test, which the two took together at a hospital. According to Clement, the result came back as a 99.5 per cent match.

Laurent publicly acknowledged Clement as his son in September 2025, ending years of speculation. The announcement came alongside a VTM documentary, Clement, Son of…, in which the young man discussed his story and his relationship with his father for the first time.

Why Clement is entitled to a royal title

A Royal Decree from 2015 extends the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium to children and grandchildren in the direct line of King Albert II, Laurent’s father. Because Clement’s descent from Albert II is now legally established, he falls within the category entitled to the princely title, though reports differ on the precise administrative steps still required for it to be formally exercised.

This new status does not mean he will take on official royal duties. Clement’s recognition does not affect succession to the throne, and he does not receive a public royal allowance simply by virtue of the title. His legal position is nevertheless significant in other ways: he now has inheritance rights alongside Laurent’s three children with Princess Claire, Princess Louise, Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.

A story with echoes of Princess Delphine

This current situation recalls that of Princess Delphine, another royal born outside marriage. Delphine, daughter of former King Albert II, was legally recognised only after a lengthy court battle and later received the title Princess of Belgium, without succession rights. By contrast, Clement’s path was far less confrontational. Laurent acknowledged him voluntarily in 2025, and the two later formalised the relationship together through the civil registry.

Father and son have spent more time together since 2025, and Clement has spoken warmly about finally building a genuine relationship with Laurent. In June 2026, he shared a photograph of the two of them together. Clement is reportedly still attached to the Vandenkerckhove surname he shares with his mother, rather than adopting his father’s dynastic name. For a man who spent years outside the royal spotlight, the title is an extraordinary twist.