After years of speculation, Prince Laurent of Belgium confirmed last September that he is the father of Clément Vandenkerckhove, who will turn 26 this August. Clément was born from Laurent’s relationship with singer Wendy Van Wanten in the 1990s, before the prince married Princess Claire.
Now, Clément, nephew of King Philippe of the Belgians, is taking another step into the public eye. Marking Father’s Day, celebrated in Belgium on Sunday, June 14th, he shared a photo with his father for the first time, giving a glimpse of their relationship and revealing an astonishing physical resemblance between the two.
© Clement Vandenkerckhove“Today I celebrate two fathers who, each in their own way, play an important role in my life. Thank you for everything. Happy Father’s Day!” Clément wrote on social media alongside two photographs: one with Prince Laurent and another with Frans Vancoppenolle, Wendy Van Wanten’s husband (the stage name of Iris Vandenkerckhove) and the man who raised him. The post makes it clear that Clément has a positive relationship with both father figures.
© Clement VandenkerckhoveHow the King’s disapproval ended Laurent and Wendy’s relationship
While many have framed the revelation of Laurent’s “secret son” as a scandal, the reality is far more complex. The prince and Wendy Van Wanten were romantically involved during the 1990s, but their relationship reportedly ended due to King Albert II's disapproval, Laurent’s father, who considered the match inappropriate.
The pressure from the royal family was significant enough to drive the couple apart, but by then Wendy was already pregnant. Laurent continued his public life as the king’s son and eventually married British-born Princess Claire in 2003. Together they have three children. Claire has long carried out her royal duties with grace, despite the fact that Laurent himself has openly expressed little enthusiasm for his role as a working member of the royal family.
© Patrick van KatwijkAlthough the story was relatively unknown outside Belgium, Clément’s existence was hardly a secret. Many people, both within and beyond royal circles, were aware of his identity. Following the lengthy and bitter legal battle that ultimately led King Albert II to acknowledge in 2020 that he had an illegitimate daughter, Princess Delphine (born from an extramarital relationship and recognized only after a court ruling), it seemed only a matter of time before Clément’s story became public.
That moment arrived at the end of 2024, when Clément decided to publicly affirm his identity and share his personal story through a documentary. He approached filmmaker Wim De Smet to bring the project to life, and after three months of interviews, the documentary aired in two installments released one week apart.
© Patrick van KatwijkIn the film, Clément speaks openly about his father. Although Prince Laurent did not participate in the production, he agreed to allow the documentary to be broadcast. The two also agreed that the prince would issue a brief statement to the press, which he did two days before the documentary premiered on television.
