Belgium

Belgian Prince Loses Legal Bid for Social Security Benefits

Published APR 8 2025

Story

Above: Prince Laurent of Belgium attends the 21 July 2024 Belgian national day military and civil parade in Brussels. Image credit: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Stringer/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The Facts

Prince Laurent of Belgium, who receives an annual royal allowance of €388,000 ($425,000) and lives rent-free, lost his legal battle to claim social security benefits when a Brussels court ruled his claim "unfounded."
BBC News
New York Post
guardian
The 61-year-old prince, youngest brother of King Philippe, argued he should receive social security coverage as a partly self-employed individual due to his royal duties and decade-long work running an animal welfare foundation.
France 24
New York Post
The Brussels court determined that Laurent's duties were more similar to civil service work, where specific benefits are granted by category rather than through an overarching social security system.
RTE.ie
Daily Mail
Laurent receives a net monthly wage of €5,000 after expenses, comparable to a senior executive's salary but without standard social security coverage, preventing him from claiming medical expense reimbursements or sick pay.
France 24
Barrons
The prince expressed concerns about his family's financial security since the royal allowance will cease upon his death, leaving his British-born wife Claire and their three adult children without support.
guardian
The Times (UK)
New York Post
Laurent's history of controversy includes a 15% allowance cut in 2018 for meeting foreign dignitaries without government approval, and criticism for attending meetings in Libya during Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
EuroNews
Daily Mail
Guardian

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Social security is a fundamental right granted by Belgian law to all residents, from the poorest to the wealthiest, and the prince's request wasn't based on financial need but on principle, as he performs legitimate work through his royal duties and charitable foundation.

Rijckaert HR Law

Narrative B

The royal family already receives substantial benefits including a generous allowance and free housing, and extending social security benefits would be an unnecessary burden on the state system, especially given the prince's history of controversial actions and unauthorized diplomatic engagements.