Belgian Car Salesman Becomes Prince After Confirming Royal Family Ties
A 26-year-old former car salesman in Belgium has been recognized as the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium, making him a prince
A former car salesman in Belgium has been officially recognized as a prince after a DNA test confirmed his relationship to the royal family. Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, is the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium and Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten.
## Background Vandenkerckhove's journey to becoming a prince began when he met his father by chance in a shopping mall in 2013. At the time, he did not know who his father was. It wasn't until he turned 16 that his mother revealed the identity of his father. Four years later, he gathered the courage to call Prince Laurent, and after several conversations, they decided to take a DNA test to confirm their relationship.
The DNA test results showed a 99.5% match, confirming that Prince Laurent was indeed Vandenkerckhove's father. This revelation has made Vandenkerckhove a prince, although he will not receive a royal allowance.
## Royal Family Ties Vandenkerckhove's situation is not unique in the Belgian royal family. His grandfather, former King Albert II, also underwent a DNA test to confirm his relationship to Delphine Boël, a woman who claimed to be his daughter. Boël won a long legal battle and was officially recognized as a princess in 2020.
The Belgian royal family has undergone several changes in recent years, including the abdication of King Albert II in 2013. The current king, King Philippe, is the son of King Albert II and has several siblings, including Prince Laurent.
## Royal Allowances In Belgium, only a few members of the royal family are entitled to receive public allowances. These include the king, his father, and a few other close relatives. Vandenkerckhove will not receive an allowance, despite being officially recognized as a prince.
The following table shows the members of the Belgian royal family who are entitled to receive public allowances:
## Conclusion Vandenkerckhove's story is a unique one, and his journey to becoming a prince has been a long and winding one. Despite not receiving a royal allowance, he is now officially a part of the Belgian royal family and will likely play a role in royal events in the future. However, he has stated that he is not sure if he will start using his father's surname, Sajonia-Coburgo, and has expressed pride in his mother's surname, Vandenkerckhove.
