Clement Vandenkerckhove, 26, has spoken publicly for the first time about his relief after Prince Laurent of Belgium officially acknowledged him as his biological son. Vandenkerckhove, whose mother is an 80s pop singer, is the illegitimate son of Prince Laurent, who fathered him during a romance that occurred in the same year he began dating his now-wife, Princess Claire.
Prince Laurent, the younger brother of Belgium's King Philippe, reportedly acknowledged paternity in February, and Vandenkerckhove is now legally a prince according to town hall records. He shared his feelings on what is believed to be his Instagram account, stating, "Getting used to the relief of no longer having to keep my origins a secret is still very much a work in progress." He also expressed deep gratitude for the "warm reactions and beautiful words of support" he has received.
Earlier this summer, Clement Vandenkerckhove posed for a photo with Prince Laurent for a Father's Day post, acknowledging both his biological father and his mother's husband, Frans Vancoppenolle. "Today I celebrate two fathers who, each in their own way, play an important role in my life," he wrote. "Thank you for everything. Happy Father's Day!"
Despite his new title, Clement will not receive a royal allowance or be included in the line of succession. He had previously identified himself in a documentary last year, confirming long-standing speculation in local media. He recalled his mother telling him about his father, saying, "She said, 'Your daddy is a prince. Your daddy is that man.'"
Prince Laurent, 62, confirmed the news in a statement: "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. This announcement is based on a sense of understanding and respect for those involved. It is the result of joint consultation."
Clement was born in 2000, the same year Prince Laurent reportedly met his wife of 23 years, Claire Coombs. The Prince's relationship with Clement's mother, Wendy Van Wanten, was never officially confirmed, though they were seen together at events in the late 1990s, including the wedding of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie.
In clips from the Flemish documentary series Het Huis, Clement reflected on being told about his heritage, with his mother admitting she was "maybe a little naive in thinking I could keep that quiet." He recalled his initial thoughts upon learning his father was a prince: "If he is a prince, what am I? My uncle is the king of Belgium!"
He also recounted the experience of contacting his birth father, describing the moment he called and the phone rang as having his "heart in my throat." He addressed past confusion about not knowing his biological father, sometimes wondering, "Do you actually know who your father is?"
Clement stated he does not blame his mother or Prince Laurent for their past, explaining, "We're all human, right? Neither my father nor my mother did anything wrong. So I just want to be able to go through life normally."
Prince Laurent and Princess Claire, who met in 2000, have three children: Princess Louise, 22, and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both 20. This situation echoes that of Princess Delphine, who was publicly acknowledged as King Albert II's love child five years ago.