Belgium’s Prince Laurent Confirms Paternity of 25-Year-Old Son

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This royal family tree has grown a new branch. 

Prince Laurent, the younger sibling of King Philippe of Belgium, acknowledged to the Belgian news agency Belga on September 9 that he has a 25-year-old child.

According to the source, the 61-year-old man has admitted in public that Clement Vandenkerckhove is his child, thereby validating a well-known speculation in the nation.

Prince Laurent has three children: Princess Louise, who is 21 years old, along with twins, Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric, both aged 19. These children are shared with Claire Coombs, who is 22 years his junior.

TopMob News reached out to the Belgian royal family for comment but has not yet heard back. 

It’s long been alleged by Belga that Laurent may have fathered a child with Belgian actress and singer Iris Vandenkerckhove, known as Wendy van Wanten. However, his acknowledgement of Clement doesn’t impact the line of succession in the country.

In modern times, it’s not just Laurent who has acknowledged a non-official descendant within the Belgian royal lineage.

2020 saw a significant moment in my family’s history as my father, formerly King Albert II, who relinquished the throne to Philippe in 2013, publicly acknowledged 57-year-old Delphine Boël as his daughter, born during his marriage to Queen Paola. This acknowledgement elevated Delphine to the title of Princess Delphine. I have been married to Queen Paola since 1959.

After Delphine learned about her true lineage being confirmed, and upon meeting her brother, King Philippe, for the first time, King Albert made a public statement regarding this matter.

 

He expressed great satisfaction with the progress made under the King’s leadership, signifying a brighter future for all, particularly for Delphine,” he stated.

 

For more royal news from this year, keep reading.

In addition to Philippe and Laurent, Albert and Paola are also parents to Princess Astrid, 63. 

Albert received confirmation of his paternity only after over a dozen years of Delphine asserting it. Baroness Sybille admits that she and Albert were involved romantically for 18 years prior to his accession to the throne.

Back in 2020, a lawyer for Delphine clarified what she hoped to achieve in her legal proceedings. 

In court, according to the BBC, Marc Uyttendaele stated that Delphine’s stance isn’t about wanting or not wanting to be a princess. Instead, she wishes to enjoy the same rights, honors, and authority as her siblings – the prince and princess – without any difference in status.

After Delphine learned about her true family lineage being confirmed, and upon meeting her brother King Philippe for the first time, King Albert made a public announcement regarding the situation.

He expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes initiated by the king, stating that it signified promising times ahead for all, and notably for Delphine.

For more royal news from this year, keep reading.

It was announced on August 1st that the son of Princess Anne and her former spouse Mark Phillips, who has been in a relationship with Harriet Sperling for over a year, is now engaged.

The spokesperson for the couple announced that both families had been informed together about the engagement, and they were overjoyed by the fantastic news.

On the eve of her 78th birthday, she was bestowed with the rank of Vice Admiral within the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

Camilla has become the first female recipient of an honorary title that is bestowed solely by the monarch, in this instance, her spouse King Charles III. The appointment was made following a recommendation from the current holder of the position known as the First Sea Lord, who at present is Sir Gwyn Jenkins.

According to NBC News, confirmed by Kensington Palace, the Princess of Wales unexpectedly canceled her scheduled attendance at this year’s Royal Ascot event just a few hours prior to the event commencement.

As reported, Kate felt regretful about being unable to attend the occasion, yet she’s currently working on finding the optimal blend of public duties while managing her life after her cancer treatment.

Approximately a year following the High Court’s decision to not grant extra security protection via the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, Prince Harry’s legal battle concluded on May 2nd as the court chose to dismiss his case.

After leaving their roles as active members of the royal family in 2021 and relocating to the United States, Harry and Meghan Markle experienced a decrease in their security arrangements. Nevertheless, during subsequent visits to the U.K., Harry has made requests for his personal security.

Prince Harry expressed deep regret to the BBC on May 2nd, stating he was deeply disappointed about losing the court case. He clarified that, under current circumstances, it seems impossible for him to return his wife and children to the United Kingdom.

Harry stated to the BBC on May 2nd that his father, King Charles III, has chosen not to communicate with him due to certain security-related matters. However, he expressed a desire for reconciliation, stating, “It would be pleasant if we could find common ground again.

Prince Harry, father of Archie and Lilibet, expressed a desire to reestablish connections within his family. However, the initiative lies with his father.

He expressed, “At this moment, I don’t foresee a scenario where I would return my wife and kids to the U.K., it’s truly unfortunate that I won’t have the chance to let them experience the land of my birth.

Harry noted, “My father has significant influence and capabilities that could potentially resolve this situation. He doesn’t have to take direct action, though. Instead, he might choose to let the professionals handle it and continue with their work.

Even after years of strife, he’s raising a truce banner with aspirations for unity. He remarked, “Life is valuable, I’m not sure how long my father may still live.”

In this paraphrase, the original message that he’s surrendering (waving white flag) in order to achieve reconciliation remains intact while using more natural and easy-to-understand language. Additionally, I added a quote to convey his sentiments about the fragility of life and uncertainty of his father’s longevity.

Approximately a year following King Charles’s revelation about his cancer diagnosis, on April 29, he penned down his thoughts expressing how his health journey and cancer treatments have underscored the most compassionate aspects of human nature.

In his booklet for a cancer reception offering resources, Charles wrote, “Each time a new diagnosis or case arises, it’s a challenging and sometimes terrifying situation not only for the affected individuals but also their loved ones. However, from personal experience as one of those statistics, I can attest that it can also serve as an opportunity to witness humanity’s most remarkable qualities at their finest.

Besides expressing gratitude for those who assisted him during his health journey, he also emphasized that the exceptional efforts of the organizations and people present tonight had significantly increased his admiration. He went on to mention that he has personally interacted with many of them, visiting their establishments and supporting their work over time.

On the 20th of April, 2021, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis chose not to participate in the traditional Easter service held by the royal family at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.

During the festivities, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined the royal family in celebration. Meanwhile, William and Kate opted to spend the weekend at their rural property in Norfolk with their children, as several news sources confirmed.

Over that Easter weekend in 2024, their absence was noticeable since it represented the second year in a row they chose not to attend, following the announcement made by the Princess of Wales about her cancer diagnosis just a week prior.

On April 15, it was announced that Jason Knauf has taken on the role of CEO for The Earthshot Prize, which is led by Prince William. In a statement posted on the website, he expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with the exceptional team and the vibrant Earthshot community to further the organization’s mission of promoting an urgent optimism for our planet.

His promotion happened approximately seven years following an accusation he made against Meghan Markle, which alleged she had bullied two personal assistants and aimed to “discredit” a third staff member. A representative for the Sussexes rejected the claims, stating that they were part of a “strategically planned smear campaign based on misleading and damaging falsehoods,” according to The Times.

2022 saw the conclusion of an investigation into the claims at Buckingham Palace, with no public disclosure of the results.

William and Kate’s eldest son George attended a soccer match in Paris alongside his dad April 7. 

At the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final, the father and son happily beamed during the match, taking place at Parc des Princes, where PSG and Aston Villa FC were competing against each other.

The protective guard, known as Graham Craker, who was responsible for safeguarding both Prince Harry and Prince William from the royal household, passed away at the age of 77 in April.

Cracker was there with the group as they discovered that their mother, Princess Diana, had passed away. He joined in her funeral ceremonies.

In 2017, Craker shared with The New York Post that he stood at the back of the hearse, and Prince William looked up and recognized him. He reciprocated the gesture by looking towards him and nodding. Craker’s presence on the journey provided comfort to Prince William as it was his mother’s final trip.

On March 12th, Hugh Grosvenor, the godson of King Charles III, along with his wife Olivia Grosvenor, declared that they are expecting their initial child.

Or:

Hugh Grosvenor, who’s godson to King Charles III, and his partner Olivia Grosvenor revealed on March 12th that they are set to have their first baby.

According to a representative, it’s been announced that the duchess will give birth during the summer. The couple is thrilled about this development and are eagerly anticipating their journey into parenthood as they build their family.

The 22-year-old Prince Frederik, son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie, passed away on March 1st following a prolonged struggle against PolG mitochondrial disease – a seldom occurring genetic condition.

In a statement, Robert expressed that Frederik is like his personal hero not just to him but also to our entire family, numerous close friends, and now, thanks to his PolG Foundation, a multitude of people worldwide. One of Frederik’s unique strengths lies in his ability to inspire others through his actions.

 

On January 22, Prince Harry, also known as The Duke of Sussex, came to an agreement with News Group Newspapers (the proprietor of both The Sun and the closed-down News of the World) following a lawsuit he filed in 2019 against the company due to suspected illegal activities by their journalists and private investigators who were accused of gathering confidential information on the royal family.

The agreement stipulated that the company would provide a significant compensation (or compensate heavily), issue an unconditional apology, and publicly admit to “extensive media coverage and invasive actions into Harry’s private life, as well as that of Diana, Princess of Wales,” according to NBC News.

On January 14, the Princess of Wales shared some positive news – she is now in remission following her full course of cancer treatment.

She expressed gratitude for being in remission in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) on January 14, noting that while this is a relief, her focus remains on recovery. For those who have gone through a cancer diagnosis, readjusting to the ‘new normal’ can take time.

As I gaze toward the horizon, I’m brimming with excitement for a year filled with rich experiences and personal growth. A wealth of opportunities awaits me, each one promising its unique flavor of satisfaction.

The rescue beagle that the Duchess of Sussex had adopted back in 2015, a dog she deeply loved, passed away. This occurred prior to her meeting her husband, Prince Harry, and he too must now share in her sorrow.

On January 7th, she posted on Instagram, “I’ve shed so many tears I can’t even count – the kind of tears that lead you to step into the shower with the unrealistic hope that the water streaming down your face will magically make you ignore them or deny their existence. Yet, they do exist. And it’s alright if they do.

Meghan expressed gratitude for countless years of unwavering affection towards her cherished Guy. She also mentioned that he had enriched her life in ways that he may not even realize.

 

Edward “Ed” Pettifer, who was the stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry’s previous nanny Alexandra Pettifier (also recognized as Tiggy Legge-Bourke), was among those tragically affected by the New Year’s Day terrorist incident in New Orleans.

William expressed his deep shock and sadness over the untimely demise of Ed Pettifer in a post on Kate Middleton’s Instagram Stories on January 4th. His thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Pettifier family and everyone else who has been affected by this heart-wrenching incident.

On New Year’s Day, the former star of Suits, who had deactivated her personal social media accounts prior to her 2018 marriage with Prince Harry, launched her own Instagram account for the first time.

The following day, it was revealed that she would launch a fresh Netflix show called “With Love, Meghan“. This series, as suggested in a press statement, redefines the genre of lifestyle programming by combining instructional elements with genuine discussions with both familiar and new acquaintances, offering practical advice alongside personal conversations.

In June 2025, Kate, William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte made a special appearance outside together to celebrate Wimbledon.

It’s great to return to SW19 for this year’s Wimbledon finals this weekend, as mentioned in an Instagram post. Congratulations once more to @iga_swiatek and @janniksin on your victories! A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making the tournament so remarkable.

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2025-09-09 23:20