Belgium’s Prince Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe, has formally recognized Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son, one year after publicly acknowledging him. With the formal registration of paternity, which Soir Mag discovered took place earlier this year, Clément is now a Prince of Belgium. He will not receive public funding—allowances are limited to the monarch and heir to the throne—and will not undertake any public duties, but is now allowed to use a royal title; a 2015 royal decree said all children and grandchildren of King Albert II can use the title of Prince (or Princess) of Belgium, as well as the style of Royal Highness.

With the formal recognition, Clément could also legally change his name to his father’s surname, to “Saxe-Coburg,” but he has previously said he’s attached to his last name, his mother’s surname. Clément’s mother is model, actress, and singer Iris Vandenkerckhove. Iris and Prince Laurent were publicly linked in the 90s; she joined him at Prince Edward and Sophie’s royal wedding in 1999, for example. In 2000, when she welcomed a son, speculation immediately arose that Prince Laurent was the father.

Clément now becomes eligible for his father’s inheritance, joining Prince Laurent’s three children, Princess Louise (b. 2004), and twin sons Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric (b. 2005). “I have a very good relationship with my father now,” Clément said earlier this summer (translated from French). “He gives me a lot of support. If I need him, he is there. That makes me very happy.”

He added, “When I call my father and ask, ‘Are we going to do something tomorrow?’, he always makes time for me. Then we go to a restaurant in Brussels, for example. Just like four days ago. We are pasta lovers. That way, we have already done so many wonderful things together. Really, my life couldn’t be better right now.” Clément said “the hardship [Laurent] had to live with is terrible. I can tell you a lot of things, emotional things. But the most important thing is that he put his hand on my shoulder. You wouldn’t believe how many hours we have already chatted.”

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