Belgian Prince Recognizes Car Salesman, 26, as Illegitimate Son After DNA Test Proved Paternity

Clément Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old former car salesman, was officially recognized as a Prince of Belgium after a DNA test confirmed a 99.5 percent match with King Philippe's younger brother Prince Laurent.

Clément is the son of Prince Laurent, 62, and well-known Flemish singer and model Wendy Van Wanten (born Iris Vandenkerckhove), 66, who dated him in the 1990s.

The former car salesman grew up wondering about his father's identity. His mother revealed the truth when he was 16 but swore him to secrecy. The pressure of keeping the secret reportedly caused him severe panic attacks.

After plucking up the courage to contact Prince Laurent, the two eventually met. Prince Laurent suggested a hospital DNA test to ease his anxiety, resulting in a definitive 99.5 percent biological match.

Prince Laurent quietly finalized the legal recognition at a town hall ceremony six months prior. The details were made public via a Belgian TV documentary.

When the truth was finally made public via the Flemish documentary, Prince Laurent noted that the announcement was the result of a "joint consultation" based on mutual understanding and respect among all parties involved, including Wendy.

While the legal registration grants him the formal title of Prince, it comes with distinct legal boundaries outlined by Belgian law.

Because he was born outside of marriage, the Belgian Constitution prevents him from entering the royal line of succession.

He will not receive any official royal allowance or taxpayer funding, nor will he undertake public royal engagements or state duties.

However, he now has full, equal inheritance rights to Prince Laurent's private estate alongside his three half-siblings.

Clément has noted he is undecided about adopting the royal family name (Saxe-Coburg), stating that abandoning the surname Vandenkerckhove might feel like a betrayal of his mother.

His mother is a prominent Belgian singer, model and socialite who primarily lives and works in Belgium.

While Prince Laurent and Clément have taken the lead in making public statements during the official recognition process, Wendy's involvement over the years has been characterized by protective secrecy, artistic hints, and eventual transparency.

Wendy kept the secret entirely to herself for 16 years. When she finally decided to break her silence to her son, she told him, "Your daddy is a prince." She then swore him to secrecy to protect both the royal family and their own privacy.

Before the formal revelation, Wendy frequently dropped subtle clues about the relationship in her music.

She named her son Clément, which Belgian media long suspected was a direct nod to Villa Clémentine, Prince Laurent’s official residence in Tervuren. She also frequently hinted at a hidden, complicated love life through the lyrics of her pop ballads.

Before the official DNA results came to light, Wendy and a young Clément once appeared together on a Belgian television show. When public questions arose regarding his paternity, she and her son actively and gently dodged the inquiries to keep the truth hidden.

This case mirrors a previous scandal within the Belgian royal family. In 2020, former King Albert II (Prince Laurent's father) was forced to recognize artist Delphine Boël as his biological daughter following a lengthy legal battle, after which she legally became Princess Delphine.