The Belgian royal family’s long-standing mystery has been resolved with Prince Laurent, the King’s brother, admitting to being the father of a secret son. The 61-year-old royal has officially confirmed his paternity of 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove, born from his past relationship with Wendy van Wanten, a Flemish actress and singer also known as Iris Vandenkerckhove.
In a statement released through Belga News Agency, Prince Laurent stated, “I affirm that I am the biological father of Clement Vandenkerckhove. We have openly discussed this matter in recent years with honesty and mutual understanding. This acknowledgment is a result of thorough deliberation and respect for all parties involved.”
“I urge you to handle this sensitive information discreetly as the circumstances demand. I will refrain from further comments or elaboration on this issue,” he added.
Speculations about Laurent’s fatherhood had circulated for some time regarding his relationship with Wendy. Reports indicate that they met in the mid-1990s at a Paris fashion show and attended Prince Edward’s wedding in 1999, where their son Clement was born the following year, sparking discussions about the noticeable resemblance between father and son.
Prince Laurent, the younger sibling of King Philippe of Belgium, has been married to Princess Claire since 2003, with whom he shares three children: Princess Louise, aged 21, and twin sons Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both aged 19.
The revelation from Laurent coincided with the imminent broadcast of a documentary on Flemish TV channel VTM titled “Clément, Son of…” where his son Clement spoke publicly for the first time about his relationship with his father.
Clement expressed in the program his desire for a normal life free from constant questioning about his paternal connection and shared his wish to simply enjoy a casual drink with his dad.
Prince Laurent, the second son and third child of former King Albert II and Queen Paola, currently holds the 15th position in the line of succession. However, due to Clement being born outside of wedlock, he is unlikely to be considered for succession according to reports from HELLO.
This revelation follows in the footsteps of Laurent’s father, King Albert, who acknowledged his paternity of artist Delphine Boël after a lengthy legal battle. Delphine and her children were granted princely titles by the court in 2020 but are excluded from the Belgian line of succession. King Albert abdicated in 2013 due to health reasons, passing the throne to his eldest son, Philippe.
