Prince Laurent of Belgium has publicly acknowledged that he is the biological father of Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 25-year-old man who says he only recently learned the identity of his father, the royal confirmed in a statement released after a new Flemish television documentary.
Clement told the broadcaster VTM that his mother, 1980s pop star Wendy Van Wanten, sat him down and said, "Your daddy is a prince. Your daddy is that man." Clement described his immediate reaction: "If he is a prince, what am I? My uncle is the king of Belgium!" He recounted calling a number he was given and feeling his "heart was in my throat" as it rang.
In a statement confirming paternity, Prince Laurent, 61, said: "With this announcement, I acknowledge that I am the biological father of Clement Vandenkerckhove. We have spoken openly and honestly about this in recent years." He added that the announcement "is based on a sense of understanding and respect for those involved" and requested the information be received "with the discretion that the nature of this intimate matter requires." The prince said he would not make further statements or provide additional explanation.
Clement, who was born in 2000, said in the documentary that he does not blame either parent for the circumstances and that he wants to "go through life normally." He told VTM that the question of his paternity had long stirred feelings of confusion and a wish to know where he came from. "Sometimes, that question would come back: 'Do you actually know who your father is?' Is he dead? I'd just want to be with my dad... going for a pint,'" he said.
Wendy Van Wanten, who rose to fame in the 1980s and hosted the Flemish television show De Pin Up Club, said she had been "maybe a little naïve in thinking I could keep [Clement's heritage] quiet," according to the documentary. She is now married to Frans Vancoppenolle and has a 17-year-old daughter, Estelle; she also has an older son, Dylan, born in 1984.
Belgian royal expert Mario Danneels told Belgian media that the revelation was not entirely surprising given public hints in Van Wanten's song lyrics and a noticeable resemblance between Prince Laurent and Clement. Danneels noted that Clement's given name appeared to reference the prince's former residence, Villa Clémentine in Tervuren. He also suggested tensions within the royal household had helped keep questions about paternity from being addressed publicly for decades.
Clement has previously sought to put the rumours to rest. He appeared on a Flemish documentary in 2021 and denied claims that he was Prince Laurent's son, saying at the time that speculation had "overshadowed" his life and that he wanted to put the matter behind him. In the latest documentary, he said he wanted to end the long-running speculation.
The announcement is not expected to affect the Belgian line of succession. Prince Laurent is a younger brother of King Philippe. The royal household has previously faced similar developments: in 2020, King Albert II publicly acknowledged his daughter, Princess Delphine, as his child after a long legal and public dispute.
Prince Laurent married Claire (née Coombs), who was born in Bath to a British father and Belgian mother, in 2003. The couple have three children: Princess Louise, 21, and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both 19. Media accounts note that Laurent and Claire met in the early 2000s and their engagement was announced in 2002.
Belgian coverage of the story has highlighted both the personal and institutional dimensions of paternity revelations involving members of the royal family, including questions about privacy and the palace's handling of sensitive family matters. In his statement, Prince Laurent framed his announcement as the result of "joint consultation" and appealed for discretion toward those involved.
Clement's confirmation of his parentage in the VTM documentary closes a chapter of public speculation that has persisted since his birth. He said he hopes the acknowledgment will allow him to move forward without the matter continuing to haunt him.