{"id":34008,"date":"2026-08-23T01:17:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T01:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/34008\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T01:17:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T01:17:13","slug":"a-modern-fairy-tale-26-year-old-car-salesman-recognised-as-prince-by-belgiums-royal-family-world-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/34008\/","title":{"rendered":"A Modern Fairy Tale: 26-Year-Old Car Salesman Recognised As Prince By Belgium\u2019s Royal Family | World News"},"content":{"rendered":"

News<\/a> world<\/a> A Modern Fairy Tale: 26-Year-Old Car Salesman Recognised As Prince By Belgium\u2019s Royal Family<\/p>\n

Last Updated:August 23, 2026, 06:10 IST<\/p>\n

The quiet resolution of one of Belgium\u2019s most widely rumoured royal open secrets came to light following an understated town hall registration\"font\"\"new\"new<\/a>\"Cl\u00e9ment<\/p>\n

Cl\u00e9ment discovered the truth about his father at age 16. Four years later, he reached out to Prince Laurent (L) directly. Images\/Instagram<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In a plot twist straight out of a modern fairy tale, 26-year-old Belgian car salesman Cl\u00e9ment Vandenkerckhove has officially been recognised as a prince.<\/p>\n

The quiet resolution of one of Belgium\u2019s most widely rumoured royal open secrets came to light following an understated town hall registration that altered the fabric of the nation\u2019s monarchy.<\/p>\n

A Secret Hidden in Plain Sight<\/p>\n

Born in 2000 to popular Belgian model and singer Wendy Van Wanten, Cl\u00e9ment grew up under constant media scrutiny and public speculation. Van Wanten had a high-profile relationship with Prince Laurent\u2014the younger brother of King Philippe<\/a>\u2014during the late 1990s, before the prince married Princess Claire in 2003.<\/p>\n

For years, subtle clues fuelled local rumours. Beyond a striking physical resemblance, Cl\u00e9ment\u2019s name was widely viewed as a direct nod to Villa Clementine, Prince Laurent\u2019s official residence in Tervuren.<\/p>\n

The DNA Confirmation and Quiet Paternity<\/p>\n

Cl\u00e9ment discovered the truth about his father at age 16. Four years later, he reached out to Prince Laurent directly. The pair quietly built a relationship away from the public eye before undergoing a DNA test, which confirmed a 99.5% biological match.<\/p>\n

Rather than dragging the matter through lengthy court battles, Prince Laurent took steps to formally register legal parentage in a private civil ceremony.<\/p>\n

Key aspects of his newfound status include:<\/p>\n

Inheritance Rights: Cl\u00e9ment gains equal rights to Prince Laurent\u2019s private estate alongside his three half-siblings\u2014Princess Louise, Prince Nicolas, and Prince Aymeric.No Official Duties or Allowance: He will not perform public duties, receive a state allowance, or hold a place in the Belgian line of succession.Keeping His Name: Cl\u00e9ment intends to retain his mother\u2019s surname, Vandenkerckhove, rather than adopting the royal house name Saxe-Coburg, stating that dropping it would feel like a betrayal of the mother who raised him.Echoes of Belgian Royal History<\/p>\n

This is not the first time Belgium\u2019s royal house has expanded its roster. The event echoes the high-profile legal battle involving King Albert II, who formally acknowledged artist Delphine Bo\u00ebl as his biological daughter in 2020 following years of court proceedings, granting her the title of Princess Delphine.<\/p>\n

Unlike that protracted feud, Prince Laurent and his son chose an amicable path focused on personal reconciliation over royal fanfare. For the former Opel dealership sales representative, the priority remains simple: building a bond with his father.<\/p>\n

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Key Questions AnsweredPowered by\"askAsk News18Will Cl\u00e9ment Vandenkerckhove ever receive a state allowance?<\/p>\n

Cl\u00e9ment Vandenkerckhove will not receive a state allowance.<\/p>\n

How does this recognition impact the Belgian line of succession?<\/p>\n

Cl\u00e9ment Vandenkerckhove’s recognition as a prince does not impact the Belgian line of succession, as he will not hold a place in it.<\/p>\n

What are Cl\u00e9ment’s inheritance rights compared to his half-siblings?<\/p>\n

Cl\u00e9ment Vandenkerckhove has equal inheritance rights to Prince Laurent’s private estate alongside his three half-siblings: Princess Louise, Prince Nicolas, and Prince Aymeric.<\/p>\n

Powered by\"askAsk News18About the Author\"PathikritPathikrit Sen Gupta<\/a><\/p>\n

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More<\/p>\n

Location :<\/p>\n

Brussels, Belgium<\/p>\n

First Published:<\/p>\n

August 23, 2026, 05:59 IST<\/p>\n

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