Prince Laurent reveals secret son

Belgium’s Prince Laurent has admitted to fathering a son 25 years ago, prior to his marriage to Princess Claire.

The younger brother of King Philippe confirmed that he is the father of 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove, who is set to appear on the documentary “Clement: Son of…’ in Belgium.

Laurent said in a statement to Belga, “We have spoken openly and honestly about this in recent years.”

The Belgian Royal Palace has not commented on the news.

Prince Laurent fathered a son with Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten (born Iris Vandenkerckhove), and according to Belgian media, rumours have circulated for years regarding Clement’s father.

On VTM in Belgium, Clement admitted that he knew his father was a prince, “[My mother] told me: ‘Your daddy is a prince.’ If he is a prince, what am I? That means my uncle is the King of Belgium.”

While now publicly recognised as the child of Prince Laurent, he will not get a royal allowance, nor will he be in the line of succession. He could potentially hold the title of Prince of Belgium, but the court has to issue a ruling before Clement can hold a royal title.

The news of Prince Laurent’s son comes just a few years after his father, King Albert, was forced to recognise a daughter he fathered in an extramarital affair. The former monarch consented to a DNA test after a Belgian court ordered that he be fined 5,000 euros a day until he complied. The test proved he was the father of Delphine Boël, and the Brussels Court of Appeal recognised Delphine as a princess and gave her the surname of Saxe-Coburg.

She is now known as Princess Delphine, and her children also carry royal titles. They are not in the line of succession, and they do not receive a royal allowance.