If you ask around, you might find people who are fascinated by royalty families and their way of life. Stories of kings and queens, princes and princesses often make news headlines. Big and splashy royal events (such as weddings, funerals, and coronations) usually get covered on the news and are viewed by people all over the globe. This week btw takes a moment to give you an update of a few stories about some royals who have been in the news.
A Royal Move
Perhaps no royals are better-known to Americans than the British monarchy: King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Charles’ sons with the late Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Henry. Prince Harry and his family recently announced that they are planning a move back to the United Kingdom. (Harry and his wife Meghan had been living in the United States recently.) Prince Harry is officially known as the Duke of Sussex. The prince is fifth in line of succession for the British crown. He follows his older brother Prince William and William’s children.
Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is an American. Six years ago, the couple moved to California. They chose to step away from their royal roles after their relationship with the other members of the British royal family was weakening.
The couple will live with their two children, Prince Archie (7 years old) and Princess Lilibet (5 years old), at a private residence in the United Kingdom. They will also not return to full ceremonial duties as members of the royal family. The move is likely to happen quickly, so that the children will be there for the start of the British school year in mid-September 2026. It is unclear why they have decided to move back. Royal watchers say that Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles, has been improving after the king announced his cancer diagnosis in 2024.
A New Prince
Other countries, such as Belgium, have a monarchy too. In Belgium, the king serves as head of state. He does not actually make any laws, but he can appoint key government figures. The king is commander-in-chief of the Belgian Armed Forces and meets with the prime minister at least once per week. The king and the royal family regularly meet representatives of the federal and local governments. The Belgian royal family also promotes social initiatives, represents Belgium when visiting other nations, and communicates with the media.
In the 1990s, Prince Laurent of Belgium, the brother of the king, dated a singer named Wendy Van Wanten. The relationship didn’t last. After the relationship ended, Van Wanten gave birth to her son. She didn’t tell her son who his father was until he was sixteen years old. Today the son, Clement Vandenkerckhove, is a 26-year-old car salesman. But after a DNA test, he has now been legally recognized as Prince Laurent’s son.
This makes Vandenkerckhove a Belgian prince. He shares equal inheritance rights with Laurent’s other three children. But he has no rights to the Belgian throne, and he will not receive a royal stipend or be expected to participate in any royal duties.