Ex-car salesman becomes Belgian prince as father officially recognises paternity

A former car salesman has become a prince after his father, Belgium's Prince Laurent, officially recognised him as his son.

Clement Vandenkerckhove was born when Laurent had a relationship with a well-known singer and actress before he married his wife.

The 26-year-old was finally recognised during a brief town hall ceremony in February, according to Belgium's Soirmag magazine.

He and his 62-year-old father both signed to acknowledged paternity and with the stroke of a pen, a new Prince of Belgium was instantly created.

Vandenkerckhove won't hold any official position, enter the line of succession or receive any allowance.

However, he will be entitled to a share of his father's inheritance alongside his three half siblings, Princess Louise, Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.

Vandenkerckhove could also use his father's surname, Saxe-Coburg, but has said he's "proud" of his name and giving it up would "mean betraying everything my mother did for me".

The house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is a historic German royal family that ruled several European monarchies in the 19th and 20th centuries - including the UK, Belgium, Portugal and Bulgaria.

The dynasty joined the British royal family when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 - meaning King Charles is a distant relative of Belgium's King Philippe.

George V changed the family's name from Saxe-Coburg to Windsor during the First World War, in a bid to distance themselves from their German heritage.

When asked about his new title, Vandenkerckhove told Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad: "What the law says means little to me.

"What matters most today is that I am a son who has the chance to get to know his father. And we are still getting to know each other every day."

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His mother, Belgian singer and actress Wendy Van Wanten, had a seven-year relationship with Prince Laurent.

In 2003, he went on to marry a British woman - Claire Louise Coombs - now Princess Claire of Belgium - and the couple have three children.

The newly minted prince - who used to be a car salesman but now works in a restaurant kitchen - said he was 16 when he discovered his father's identity.

He told Nieuwsblad he struggled with the stress of keeping the secret and suffered panic attacks and anxiety.

"Four years later, when I was 20, I called him," he said.

"That was my own choice. And last year, when I was 25, I finally came out [revealed Laurent was his father].

"That, too, was one 100% my own initiative. Both my mother and my father supported my decision."

He shared a picture with his dad on Instagram for Fathers Day and the pair are said to have a shared love of cars.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ex-car salesman becomes Belgian prince as father officially recognises paternity