A former car salesman has officially been welcomed into Belgium's royal family after his father, the brother of the nation's king, formally recognised him as his son.
Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, was quietly given his royal status at a ceremony six months ago, according to Belgian magazine Soir Mag, with details only now emerging.
Royal Recognition and Inheritance
His father, Prince Laurent, is the younger brother of King Philippe and last year publicly acknowledged his son who was born following a relationship with Flemish model and singer Iris Vandenkerckhove, better known as Wendy Van Wanten.
The recognition means Clément can use a royal title and is entitled to a share of his father's inheritance, The Times reports. But the 26-year-old will not receive a royal allowance or have any place in the line of succession.
Decision on Royal Surname
Speaking to Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, Clément said he had yet to decide if he would adopt the royal family name, van Saksen-Coburg.
"I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove," he told the newspaper. "Sacrificing that surname would be a betrayal to everything my mother did for me."
DNA Test and Childhood Struggles
Last September, Clément featured in a Flemish TV documentary after being publicly acknowledged by his father and spoke about the DNA test which confirmed he was the prince's son. "We went to the hospital together and I remember him saying 'I'll go first so you're feeling at ease'," he told VTM. The DNA test returned a 99.5% match, he said.
Clément said questions surrounding his parentage caused him to feel anxious as a child. "My whole childhood I struggled with the question, 'Who is my father?,'" he said. "When I knew, the secrecy weighed heavily on me. Imagine: you know who your father is, but you aren't allowed to tell anyone. After school, I became a car salesman. I liked that job and did it well. But panic attacks were destroying me."
Focus on Relationship, Not Finances
Clément says he feels less anxious having established a relationship with his biological father, but is not interested in any financial benefits. "What matters most to me right now is that I am a son who is allowed to get to know his father", he said.
