A European royal has publicly admitted to fathering a secret child with a singer – before he married a British Princess.
In a new documentary, 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove revealed that he is Prince Laurent of Belgium’s son – which had been largely speculated by local press for many years.
He was born in 2000, the same year King Philippe’s brother, 61, is understood to have met his now-wife of 22 years, Claire Coombs.
Clement’s mother, local 80s star Wendy Van Wanten, was never confirmed to have been in a relationship with the prince, but the pair were spotted at events in the late 90s together – and notably, attended Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s wedding together.
‘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,’ Prince Laurent said, according to Belga News Agency.
‘This announcement is based on a sense of understanding and respect for those involved. It is the result of joint consultation.’
‘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.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Belgian Royal Family for comment. It is understood that the throne succession will not be affected by the announcement.
In a new documentary, 25-year-old Clement Vandenkerckhove (pictured with his mother) revealed that he is Prince Laurent of Belgium’s son in a new documentary – which had been largely speculated by local press for many years
He was born in 2000, the same year King Philippe’s brother, 61, is understood to have met his now-wife of 22 years, Claire Coombs (both pictured at their wedding)
Clement, who in the programme said he wants to put an end to discussions that have ‘overshadowed’ his life for years, has long been suspected of being related to the royal, but had in 2021 denied the rumours.
Appearing on Het Huis, as reported by HLN, he quipped: ‘It won’t be the answer you expect.
‘I think it’s very fairytale-like that everyone thinks that, which is great. But fairytales are just fairytales, if you know what I mean.
‘Can you picture me standing in line to the throne? It’s good to talk about it. On the one hand, it’s not fun because it stirs up emotions, but on the other hand, this is for the best. I want to be able to put it behind me, to no longer have it haunt me.’
Speaking to Belga News Agency, royalty expert Mario Danneels said that ‘the physical resemblance was clear’.
‘And the name Clement pointed to Villa Clémentine, Laurent’s residence,’ he continued. ‘Wendy Van Wanten also hinted to it a couple of times in her love songs.’
The secret was said to have contributed to tensions in the palace, Mario also said, explaining: ‘I was once told there were heated disputes between Laurent and his father, King Albert.’
Wendy, now 65, was known for hosting the erotic Flemish TV show De Pin Up Club, where she offered sex advice to viewers writing into the show.
Clement’s mother, local 80s star Wendy Van Wanten, was never confirmed to have been in a relationship with the prince, but the pair were spotted at events in the late 90s together – and notably, attended Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s wedding together
Clement, who in the programme said he wants to put an end to discussions that hae ‘overshadowed’ his life for years, has long been suspected of being related to the royal, but had in 2021 denied the rumours
As well as being a singer, she had also starred in a number of movies and TV shows, and now shares photos with her husband – Frans Van Coppenolle – and their children.
Wendy also has a second son, Dylan, who was born in 1984, and daughter Estelle, 17, who she shares with Frans.
Laurent, meanwhile, has been wed to Claire since 2003 and the couple share three kids: Princess Louise, 21 – and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both 19.
He has in past been branded an ‘enfant terrible’ and the ‘cursed prince’ after a series of failed business ventures and gaffes.
In April, it was also revealed the royal had lost a legal battle to claim social security benefits on top of his six-figure royal allowance.
The younger brother of King Philippe and a third cousin once removed of King Charles, received €388,000 (£333,000) last year from state funds and doesn’t pay rent for his home.
However, he said because he was partly self-employed due to his royal duties and his work running an animal welfare charity for the past decade, he should be given the same benefits as independent entrepreneurs.
A Brussels court rejected Laurent’s claim – the first of its kind in the country’s history – as ‘unfounded’, according to reports.
As well as being a singer, she had also starred in a number of movies and TV shows, and now shares photos with her husband – Frans Van Coppenolle – and their children. Pictured with Clement in 2013
Laurent, meanwhile, has been wed to Claire since 2003 and the couple share three kids: Princess Louise, 21 – and twins Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both 19. Laurent and Claire in 2013
Pictured: Prince Laurent and Princess, Claire with their children, Princess Louise and Princes Nicolas and Aymeric
The court found that the prince couldn’t be considered self-employed nor an employee and that his duties were more alike to those in the civil service, where this is no overall social security system and instead workers receive specific benefits according to the category they belong to.
But the judge said the royal should be entitled to a pension, but that gaps in legislation made that unattainable and called for the law to be amended, according to broadcaster VTM, via the BBC.
‘This is not about financial means but principle,’ Laurent told Belgian broadcaster RTBF about his legal battle.
‘When a migrant comes here, he registers, he has a right to [social security]. I may be a migrant too, but one whose family established the state in place,’ he added.
The prince’s request was not based on a ‘whim’, according to his lawyer Olivier Rijckaert, who told Belgian newspaper Le Soir that social security is ‘granted by Belgian law to all residents, from the most deprived to the richest’.
Mr Rijckaert reportedly said most of the royal’s allowance went on wages for his staff and travel expenses, meaning Laurent is left with around €5,000 (£4,300) a month.
But while his monthly wage is similar to the ‘average salary of a senior executive in Belgium’, the prince doesn’t have the ‘full social security coverage’, like the right to claim back some medical expenses.
In 2020, Laurent, who is married to British-born Princess Claire, criticised the ‘unacceptable’ treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and accused Buckingham Palace of treating the Duke of Sussex as ‘property’.
Princess Delphine of Belgium attends the military parade in the front of the Royal Palace at National Day in July 2022
Elsewhere, in another controversial moment from the same year, the prince defended Belgium’s King Leopold II, who was blamed for 10million deaths in the Congo.
He claimed that Leopold could not have ‘made people suffer’ because he never visited his African colony.
The prince spoke out after Statues of Leopold, who ruled over what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo for 23 years until 1908, were vandalised by activists as part of the global Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd.
In March 2018, Laurent had his monthly allowance cut by 15 per cent for a year, after he attended a Chinese embassy reception without government permission.
The royal was caught out when he tweeted an image of himself at the Chinese embassy party in full naval uniform.
He also visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony, in 2011 without permission, and met with Colonel Gaddafi in Libya, who he says promised him £42million for a forestry scheme.
The black sheep of the family, the prince has also accused his own family of ‘sabotaging’ his life and monitoring him ‘like the Stasi’.
His various gaffes and scandals have led to the former military helicopter pilot being nicknamed The Cursed Prince (Le Prince Maudit).
In 2014, he was forced to pay back £14,500 after invoicing the state for supermarket bills, skiing holidays and his children’s school fees.
In 2016, it was decided that Prince Laurent’s children were not allowed to carry the name ‘of Belgium’.
Prince Laurent’s involvement in animal welfare and environmental issues, as well as him ignoring protocol, have earned Laurent the nickname of ‘ecolo-gaffeur’ (‘the eco-blunderer’).
The prince is also known for his love of speed, having racked up several speeding tickets.
Prince Laurent is married to British-born Princess Claire, who was born in Bath as Claire Coombs and who worked as a land surveyor.
In 2019 he was told off by his wife when he was pictured talking on his phone during an event celebrating his country’s independence.
He was spotted on his smartphone as the Belgian national anthem was played, prompting his wife to touch him on the arm and give him a stern look. The couple then appeared to have an animated conversation about the gaffe.
Laurent engaged in similar antics at the same event in 2022 and was again scolded by his other half.
Elsewhere, the prince’s father, King Albert II, saw Princess Delphine legally named as his daughter in 2020.
After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself.
In 2013, the same year King Albert abdicated the throne due to health reasons and was succeeded by his son King Philippe, Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert’s daughter – which she won in October 2020.
Now Delphine has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Joséphine of Belgium and Prince Oscar of Belgium who she shares with partner James O’Hare.
Since the legal action has been settled, Princess Delphine has slowly become integrated into the Belgian royal family.
She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to – in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a ‘warm meeting.‘
When she was granted her royal title Princess Delphine was also invited to Belvédère Castle in Brussels where she had an official meeting with her father and his wife Queen Paola.
