In a significant ruling, a Belgian court has rejected Prince Laurent's bid to access social security benefits on top of his substantial royal allowance of €388,000 (£295,850; $376,000) from state funds received last year. The younger brother of King Philippe, Laurent, claims that his royal responsibilities and his long-standing charity work in animal welfare justify entitled social security access.
At 61, Prince Laurent has argued that he is acting on principle rather than monetary need, stating to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, "When a migrant comes here, he registers, he has a right to [social security]. I may be a migrant too, but one whose family established the state in place."
However, the Brussels court concluded that the prince does not meet the criteria as either a self-employed individual or an employee, effectively rejecting his claims for additional financial support. Although the presiding judge acknowledged that Laurent could qualify for a pension under normal circumstances, gaps in legislative provisions were cited as a barrier to fulfilling this potential entitlement.
Prince Laurent's lawyer, Olivier Rijckaert, emphasized that their legal endeavor was not whimsical but carries symbolic weight, asserting that social security should be accessible to all residents, regardless of wealth. He noted that much of the prince’s allowance is consumed by his assistant's salary and travel costs, leaving Laurent with roughly €5,000 (£4,300; $5,500) monthly, with no access to social security benefits to offset medical expenses.
The prince, who has three adult children with British-born Claire Coombs, has voiced worries about the family's future once the royal allowance ceases upon his passing. Following the court's decision, Laurent is contemplating whether to appeal, having already initiated legal action after initially being denied social security benefits.
Historically, Prince Laurent has been at the center of various controversies, earning the nickname "prince maudit," meaning "cursed prince." His past includes incidents such as a year-long deduction of his allowance for attending a Chinese embassy event without government approval while donned in naval attire, alongside numerous speeding fines and questionable visits to Libya during the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.
