{
  "id": 2167822,
  "title": "Car salesman becomes Belgian prince after royal lineage legally confirmed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/car-salesman-becomes-belgian-prince-after-royal-lineage-legally",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T15:43:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12028198/prince-laurent-son-royal-family-belgium-clement-vandenkerckhove/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Belgium's Prince Laurent has legally confirmed his son Clément Vandenkerckhove as a member of the royal family, according to a recent article in the Belgian publication Soir Mag. The prince publicly acknowledged last year that he was the father of Clément, a former car salesman born before his marriage to Princess Claire. Vandenkerckhove was officially recognized as a prince through a formal process conducted by a civil registrar in February. Vandenkerckhove, who is not expected to take on any royal duties, is the eldest among the siblings of Prince Laurent, who is the younger brother of King Philippe of Belgium. The confirmation of Vandenkerckhove as a prince follows a long-standing debate over his paternity, with the prince making his confirmation in September last year.",
  "summary": "Prince Laurent of Belgium publicly acknowledged last year that he was the father of Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, but officially established paternity in February.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euro Weekly News",
        "title": "Belgian car salesman’s life changes forever after royal secret is finally confirmed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/belgian-car-salesmans-life-changes-forever-after-royal-secret-is",
        "published": "2026-08-20T14:19:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}