A prince, Laurent of Saxe-Coburg, in conflict with the Belgian state while his brother, King Philippe, is its leader: the case that the magistrates of the Brussels labor court will have to decide is not trivial. At 61, the prince denounces the fact that he and his family are denied social security coverage. Stating that he would be a worker like any other, he intends to obtain reimbursement for his care and a retirement pension. Monday, November 25, the court held a first hearing and announced that it would give itself time to think: the turbulent child of the Belgian dynasty will not know until April 2025 if he will win his case.
“I wanted to work, but I was prevented from doing so”declared in 2023 the youngest son of ex-King Albert II (1993-2013), targeting at the time the latter’s chief of staff. Today, says Me Olivier Rijckaert, Laurent, however, exercises an independent activity while submitting to all the obligations required by his royal status. “ In one year, 93 visits, missions, board meetings, that’s impressive. And the prince also has an aide-camp and an office at the palace”argued the lawyer.
In exchange for what he considers to be a profession like any other, Laurent, now only fourteenth in the order of succession to the throne, receives an annual “endowment” of 388,000 euros. This public money consists of a sort of salary subject to tax – 110,000 euros gross –, the rest covering “operating and personnel costs” to justify. The prince’s father, former King Albert II, 90 years old, receives an annual endowment of 923,000 euros.
“A small entrepreneur”
Since he pays taxes and considers himself “a small entrepreneur” in the service of his family, the prince demands the social rights guaranteed to his fellow citizens. Lawyers for the Belgian State, for their part, maintain that the amount of his grant should allow him to take out private insurance while Me Rijckaert defends his client’s right to register with a social insurance fund, as all self-employed workers can do. Problem for the king’s brother: although he pays taxes, he does not, however, pay social security contributions, which theoretically deprives him of the related rights.
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Obviously, those who defined the rules of the royal endowment did not envisage that one of its beneficiaries could one day claim a status, whether independent, employee or civil servant. Demanding, during a public appearance on November 15, “respect for an elementary right”, Prince Laurent said: “ I don’t make it a question of financial means, but of respect. When a migrant comes here, he registers and he has rights. I am perhaps also a migrant, but whose family put the Belgian state in place. »
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