Prince Laurent of Belgium – the younger brother of King Philippe – has confirmed that he is the father of 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove after years of speculation
A mystery engulfing the Belgian royal family has finally been solved as the King’s brother, Prince Laurent, has acknowledged that he is the father of a secret son.
The 61-year-old royal has publicly confirmed he is the father of 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove, born from his previous relationship with Wendy van Wanten, a Flemish actress and singer whose real name is Iris Vandenkerckhove.
In a statement shared with Belga News Agency, the Prince 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. This announcement is based on a sense of understanding and respect for those involved. It is the result of joint consultation.
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“I kindly request that you receive this information with the discretion that the nature of this intimate matter requires. I will not make any further statements or provide any further explanation on this matter,” he added.
There had long been rumours about Laurent having a child with Wendy. TVRT reports that Wendy met Prince Laurent at a fashion show in Paris in the mid-1990s and that they attended Prince Edward’s wedding in 1999.
Her son Clement was born in 2000, and many speculated over the strong resemblance between father and son.
Prince Laurent is the younger brother of King Philippe of Belgium and has been married to Princess Claire since 2003 after the couple meet in 2000. The couple share three children: Princess Louise, 21, and twin sons Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, 19.
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Laurent’s statement came just hours ahead of Flemish TV channel VTM airing a new documentary, titled Clément, Son of… in which his son spoke for the first time about his father.
According to Nieuwsblad, Clement said in the programme: “I was only born, and things were already being said about me. That was my normal life. Now I can say it in my own words. I’m 25 now, and I just think: we’re all human.
“My dad didn’t do anything wrong, my mom didn’t do anything wrong. I want to be able to live a normal life and not constantly be told, ‘Do you even know who your father is?’ ‘Is he dead yet?’ I want to be done with that. I just want to go for a beer with my dad.”
Prince Laurent is the second son and third child of the former king of Belgium’s Albert II and Queen Paola. He is currently 15th in line to the throne, but as Clement was born from a relationship outside of marriage, he is unlikely to be included in the line of succession, HELLO reports.
Laurent’s bombshell comes just five years after his dad King Albert admitted that he is the father of artist Delphine Boël, following a seven-year legal battle. She was born in 1968 from Albert’s affair with Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.
Delphine and her children are not included in the Belgian line of succession, but the court did grant them the titles of prince and princess in October 2020. She has since joined the royal family for a number of public engagements.
Albert, now 91, abdicated in 2013, citing ill-health, in favour of his eldest son, Philippe.