News broke in September 2025 that Prince Laurent de Saxe-Cobourg, brother to King Philippe of Belgium, had recognised a 26-year-old man as his son. Born during Laurent's engagement to his now-wife, Princess Claire of Belgium, Clément van Vandenkerckhove, is now officially recognised as a prince.
While the formalities apparently took place in February 2026, Belgian publication SoirMag confirmed the news through an exclusive source.
Vandenkerckhove, the son of a belgian model, Iris Vandenkerckhove, went from being a cars salesman in Flanders to an official member of the royal family.
This is not the first time the Belgian royal family has been involved in a situation like this: Princess Delphine, formerly known as Delphine Boël, was in a much publicised battle with former King of Belgium, Albert ll. Until 2020, Boël, whose mother is a Belgian noblewoman, had long claimed that Albert was her father. While he initially refused any request for a DNA test, he eventually provided a sample in 2019. She was officially recognised in 2020. Unlike his father, it was reportedly Laurent himself who suggested a test be taken.
While this step up brings the title, it won't bring any succession rights, as the Belgian constitution limits those to "legitimate" children. He could, however, opt for the official Saxe-Cobourg name, a step he has allegedly refused. For the new Prince Clément, the recognition doesn't come with any official function, nor does it entitle him to an allowance, something only a few select family members receive, including his father.
