Car salesman, 26, confirmed as Belgian prince via DNA test

A 26-year-old former car salesman in Belgium has been officially recognized as the son of Prince Laurent, a member of the Belgian royal family. Clément Van den Kerckhove was acknowledged by Prince Laurent, whose mother is Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten, six months ago through official procedures at the city hall.

While Van den Kerckhove now holds the status of a prince, he will not be part of the line of succession to the throne. Unlike his half-siblings Princess Louise and Princes Emeric and Nicolas, he will not participate in official royal ceremonies.

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My father said, 'I'll go first so you can be at ease.'

Van den Kerckhove grew up unaware of his father's identity. At 16, his mother informed him that Prince Laurent was his biological father. At age 20, he contacted the prince, leading to several phone calls and a subsequent DNA test, which confirmed a 99.5% match. Prince Laurent reportedly initiated the DNA testing to put Van den Kerckhove at ease.

Despite his newfound royal status, Van den Kerckhove is likely to retain his current surname, Van den Kerckhove, which he inherited from his mother. He expressed pride in this name, stating that abandoning it would feel like betraying his mother's efforts. He will also not receive a royal allowance, as Belgium's public stipends for royals are limited to a select few, including King Philippe, former King Albert II, Prince Laurent, and Princess Astrid.

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This name is my pride. If I give up the name, it's like betraying everything my mother did for me.