Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old former car salesman, has been legally recognized as a prince after his father, Prince Laurent of Belgium, publicly acknowledged paternity. The prince confirmed in a statement that he is the biological father of Vandenkerckhove, who was born in 2000. This occurred in the same year Prince Laurent reportedly met his now-wife of 23 years, Claire Coombs.
While Vandenkerckhove will not receive a royal allowance nor will he be included in the line of succession, his recognition places him among a group of European royal offspring born outside of marriage who may benefit from their lineage. Prince Albert of Monaco's children, for example, have reportedly received financial benefits.
Vandenkerckhove's mother is Wendy Van Wanten, an 80s pop singer. Although their relationship was never officially confirmed, the pair were seen together at events in the late 1990s, including the wedding of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie. Vandenkerckhove himself confirmed speculation about his parentage in a documentary last year, recalling his mother telling him, "Your daddy is a prince. Your daddy is that man."
In a Father's Day post earlier this summer, Vandenkerckhove shared a photo with Prince Laurent, acknowledging both his father and his mother's husband, Frans Vancoppenolle. He wrote, "Today I celebrate two fathers who, each in their own way, play an important role in my life."
Prince Laurent's acknowledgment follows that of his own father, King Albert II, who five years ago publicly recognized his illegitimate daughter, Princess Delphine. Princess Delphine, born from an 18-year affair, spent decades seeking legal recognition, which she obtained in October 2020. She now holds the name de Saxe-Cobourg and is a recognized member of the Belgian royal family along with her two children. Despite past hurt from her father's rejection, Delphine has since begun attending royal engagements and stated her relationship with her father has healed.
Other European royals have also fathered children outside of marriage. Prince Albert of Monaco has two children from previous relationships: Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, born in 2003 to former Air France flight attendant Nicole Coste, and Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, born in 1992 to American Tamara Rotolo. Both Alexandre and Jazmin were removed from Monaco's line of succession in exchange for financial settlements. Article 10 of Monaco's constitution states that only direct descendants or siblings of the monarch may inherit the throne, excluding children born out of wedlock.
In the United Kingdom, Captain Mark Phillips, the ex-husband of Princess Anne, fathered Felicity Wade (née Tonkin) with a New Zealand art teacher in 1984, while still married to the Princess Royal. Felicity, now an equine vet, grew up believing her father was dead until the age of eight, a deception reportedly advised by one of Phillips's aides. While a DNA test in 1991 confirmed Phillips as her father, leading to a financial settlement, he has never openly acknowledged her. Felicity's grandmother stated in 2011 that Zara Tindall, Felicity's half-sister, had never been in contact with her.