Prince Laurent of Belgium recognizes son Clément Vandenkerckhove as prince and heir
Clément Vandenkerckhove, the 26-year-old son of Belgium's Prince Laurent and Iris Vandenkerckhove, stated on Sunday that he feels gratitude and relief after his official civil recognition as a Prince of Belgium.
Public reaction on Instagram
Clément Vandenkerckhove shared a public statement on Instagram on Sunday, 23 August 2026, following news reports of his official recognition by Prince Laurent of Belgium. The 26-year-old addressed the personal impact of stepping into public life under his confirmed family identity. He noted that the transition brought a sense of relief after years of keeping his parentage private.
Getting used to the relief of no longer having to hide my origins is still very much a process I am fully experiencing.
In the same social media statement, Vandenkerckhove expressed deep appreciation for the public messages he received after the news emerged. He described being moved by the supportive messages sent by people who had followed his personal journey over time.
The many warm reactions and beautiful words of support from so many people who followed my story touched me more deeply than I could have ever imagined. To be honest, I still do not really know how to assimilate all of this, but the feeling that takes precedence over everything else is gratitude.
Timeline of the civil recognition
Prince Laurent completed the formal recognition of his son before a civil registrar in February 2026. The administrative step was not publicly announced at the time of signing and came to light on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, when Soir Magazine published details of the filing. The civil registration followed an initial announcement in 2025, in which Prince Laurent publicly confirmed that Clément was his biological child.
Clément Vandenkerckhove was born from Prince Laurent's relationship with Iris Vandenkerckhove, a Belgian singer known in Flanders under the stage name Wendy Van Wanten. The February filing established the formal legal link that had remained unrecorded in state registries throughout Clément's youth.
- Prince Laurent publicly announces that Clément Vandenkerckhove is his biological son.
- Prince Laurent formally recognizes Clément before a civil registry officer.
- Soir Magazine reports that Prince Laurent completed the official civil recognition in February.
- Clément Vandenkerckhove publishes an Instagram statement expressing relief and gratitude.
Royal title and inheritance status
Under Belgian law, the civil recognition automatically grants Clément the title of Prince of Belgium. He also receives the right to carry his father's dynastic family name, Saxe-Cobourg. The legal procedure formally integrates him into the family record as a full legal heir to Prince Laurent.
As an heir, he holds inheritance rights equal to those of Prince Laurent's other children. Belgian media outlets reported that the administrative step before the registrar was completed without a public ceremony. The procedure concludes years of speculation regarding his civil status and legal relationship to the royal household.
Official duties and succession boundaries
Despite his royal title and surname, Prince Clément will not assume an institutional role within the Belgian state. He will receive no financial endowment from the state treasury for his living costs. Furthermore, he will not be assigned official missions or a formal rank in state protocol.
The civil recognition also excludes him from the line of succession to the Belgian throne. Like Prince Laurent's other children, he will not take part in official royal events such as the annual 21 July national day parade. The arrangement keeps his personal life separate from the formal activities of the monarchy.
