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 previously undisclosed son. In a public statement to Belga News Agency, the 61-year-old royal confirmed his paternity of 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove, born from his past relationship with Wendy van Wanten, also known as Iris Vandenkerckhove, a Flemish actress and singer.
Addressing the situation with candor, Prince Laurent expressed that the acknowledgment was made after open and honest discussions in recent years. He emphasized the importance of handling the matter with discretion and respect for all parties involved. The Prince indicated that no further comments or elaborations would be provided on this private issue.
Speculations about Laurent’s relationship with Wendy had circulated for some time, with reports suggesting that they met during a fashion event in Paris in the mid-1990s and attended a notable wedding together in 1999. Clement, their son, was born in 2000, prompting observations of the striking resemblance between father and son.
As the younger brother of King Philippe of Belgium, Prince Laurent has been married to Princess Claire since 2003, with whom he shares three children. The timing of Laurent’s disclosure coincided with the broadcast of a documentary on Flemish TV channel VTM titled Clément, Son of…, featuring his son speaking publicly for the first time about their relationship.
In the program, Clement conveyed his desire for a normal life free from incessant questions about his parentage, expressing a simple wish to share a beer with his father. While Prince Laurent stands at 15th in line to the throne, the circumstances of Clement’s birth from a relationship outside of marriage suggest he is unlikely to be considered in the line of succession, according to reports.
This revelation follows a similar revelation by Laurent’s father, King Albert, who admitted to fathering artist Delphine Boël after a legal battle in recent years. Despite not being part of the official line of succession, Delphine and her children were granted princely titles in 2020 and have since participated in royal engagements. King Albert, now 91, abdicated in 2013 due to ill-health, passing the throne to his eldest son, Philippe.