The Belgian royal house is once again at the center of controversy. This week, a news story has shaken the Belgian country and has reopened old debates about lineage, the recognition of extramarital children, and the right to bear a royal title. Above all, this is due to a step that Philippe of Belgium refuses to take.
The protagonist of this story is Clément Vandenkerckhove, a 25-year-old who, according to recent revelations, is the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium, younger brother of the current King Philippe. The information, which until recently was only a rumor, was confirmed by both Laurent himself and Clément in a documentary recently released in Belgian media. Clément is the result of a relationship Prince Laurent kept with singer Wendy Van Wanten during the 1990s, before his marriage to Princess Claire.
In the documentary, the young man shared his desire to close a chapter that has marked him since childhood: "My father didn't do anything wrong, nor did my mother. I want to be able to live a normal life and not be constantly asked: 'Do you know who your father is? Has he died yet?'. I just want to go have a beer with my father," he expressed with honesty and emotion.
King Philippe of Belgium refuses to proclaim Clément prince
According to the outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, a DNA test has already been conducted, but it is unknown whether Clément has been officially registered in the civil registry as Laurent's son. This formality is key: only a legal recognition of paternity would allow the government to grant him the title of Prince of Belgium through a royal decree signed by King Philippe.
However, this is where the conflict lies. Philippe of Belgium, through a 2015 decree, established that he would not grant royal titles to people born outside the recognized core of the family. Despite the precedent of Delphine Boël, who was legally recognized in 2020 as the daughter of Albert II and is now Princess of Belgium, the monarch refuses to take the same step with Clément.
The Belgian royal house has not yet commented on the next step for Philippe of Belgium
This decision is generating internal tensions. The situation recalls the case of Delphine, widely known in Belgium, whose existence was denied for years until the courts ruled in her favor. Even Queen Paola publicly addressed the family drama, acknowledging infidelities and emotional distances in her marriage, something unusual for royalty.
Clément's future as an official member of the royal family is in the hands of his uncle, the king. For now, the door to recognition remains closed, and with it, tension within the Belgian monarchy continues to rise.