On September 9, 2025, Prince Laurent of Belgium confirmed that he is the
biological father of 25-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove. Clement is the son of Iris Vandenkerckhove (AKA Wendy van Wanten) from a relationship in the late 1990s. Clement was born before Prince Laurent met and married his wife, Claire.
Clément Vandenkerckhove:
- Will Not:
- Be in the line of succession
- Receive any government funding
- Have any official role
- Could, if legally recognized:
- Receive the title & style, HRH Prince
- Receive inheritance.
Official Statement (Translation)
With this message, I acknowledge that I am the biological father of
Clément Vandenkerckhove. We have spoken openly and honestly about this
over the past few years.
This announcement is based on a sense of understanding and respect for
those involved. It is the result of joint consultation.
I ask that you receive this information with the restraint that the
nature of this intimate matter requires.
I will not make any further statements or provide further explanations
about this.
Laurent von Sachsen-Coburg
Q&A
Note: Belgium's rules about illegitimate children differ from most other Monarchies.
Q1: Is Clément in the Belgium's line of succession?
No. The rules for succession require you to be a legitimate child. (Clément's aunt, Princess Delphine, is also an illegitimate child. She is not in the line of succession.)
Q2: Is Clément now about to use HRH Prince Clément?
Not at this time. Clément has not yet been legally recognized as Prince Laurent's son. But if Clément takes that legal action, he could be.
Belgium's 2015 Royal Decree grants the title and style HRH Prince/ss to all children of the monarch, and all children on sons of the monarch. The decree does not include any language about legitimacy/ born in marriage.
(Other monarchies expressly state in their rules that titles only go to children born/conceived during marriage, and so those illegitimate children would be ineligible to receive a title.)
Q2a: Will Clément's children be HRH Prince/ss?
No. Even if Clément is given the title HRH Prince, that does not extend down to his children. Children of Prince/ss are not automatically Prince/sses themselves. It is about your relationship to the monarch (current or past), and usually does not extend down more than 2 generations (I.e., children of the Monarch, and grandchildren).
(Princess Delphine's children are given the title HRH Prince/ss as they are grandchildren of the Monarch.)
Q3: Will Clément attend Royal Events like Princess Delphine?
We typically see Princess Delphine at two royal events each year:
These events are not normally attended by Prince Laurent's other children or Princess Astrid's children. So, it is likely that Clément will not be invited to those. We may see him at events where the children of Laurent are naturally invited.
It is unclear what sort of relationship Clément will have, or want to have, with Prince Laurent and the Royal Family.
Clément's situation is similar but slightly different from Princess Delphine's. Delphine actively fought to be recognized and received legal recognition. Because she is legally recognized (not just publicly recognized), Delphine is legally an HRH Princess. Clément has not yet been legally recognized.
Also, it is important to note that Princess Delphine is the illegitimate child of King Albert, the former Monarch. Whereas Clément is the illegitimate child of a son of the monarch. So, they have slightly different positions.
Timeline of Events
1990s
1990s
-
Prince Laurent has a relationship with Wendy van Wanten (AKA Iris Vandenkerckhove), a well-known model.
1999
- June
- Prince Laurent and Wendy van Wanten attend Prince Edward of UK's
wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones.
- Late 1999
2000s
2000
- February
- Wendy van Wanten (AKA Iris Vandenkerckhove)’s pregnancy is revealed.
- August?
- Wendy van Wanten gives birth to Clement
Vandenkerckhove. The child's father is not publicly announced. It is
speculated to be Prince Laurent’s child. Other men are also speculated.
- Clement is Prince Laurent's 1st child. The name Clement is a nod to Villa Clémentine, Prince Laurent’s residence.
- Sometime 2000
- Prince Laurent and Claire Coombs met and began a relationship.
2002
- Prince Laurent and Claire Coombs announce engagement.
2003
-
Prince Laurent marries Clarie Coombs (who becomes Princess Claire).
2004
- Princess Claire gives birth to Prince Louise.
- Louise is Prince Laurent's 2nd child
2005
-
Princess Claire gives birth to twins, Prince Nicolas & Princess
Aymeric
-
Nicolas & Aymeric are Prince Laurent's 3rd & 4th children.
2010s
2020s
2020
- (Princess Delphine, Laurent's half-sister and Clement's aunt, is legally and publicly recognized as King Albert's Daughter after a 7-year legal battle).
2021
-
Clement Vandenkerckhove denies that Prince Laurent is his father during a TV
interview.
2025
Tuesday Sept 9th
-
Prince Laurent publicly acknowledges Clement Vandenkerckhove (age 25) as his
son.
-
Danish Broadcaster VTM airs a documentary “Clément, zoon van..." (Clement, son of….) where Clement and his mother reveal the paternity.
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