Belgian Prince Laurent's request for social assistance in addition to his royal allowance was denied.

A court in Brussels rejected the request of 61-year-old Belgian Prince Laurent, who receives an annual allowance of 16.1 million TL (388,000 euros) and is provided with rent-free accommodation, to additionally receive social assistance.

The legal application made by Prince Laurent of Belgium to obtain social security benefits in addition to his royal allowance of 388,000 euros (16.1 million TL) was denied by the court. This was the latest misfortune for the prince, who is often in the news due to his controversial actions and gaffes. The 61-year-old prince, the younger brother of King Philippe, argued that his work should grant him and his family the royal allowance of 388,000 euros and the right to accommodation without rent. Laurent claimed that he is partly self-employed due to his role in the royal family and his management of an animal charity for the past 10 years. In an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF, he stated, "This is not about material means, but principles. When a migrant comes here, they register and have the right (to social security). I might also be a migrant, but I am a migrant whose family established the state." However, the court in Brussels rejected Laurent's claim as "baseless" on Monday. The court expressed that Laurent cannot be classified as self-employed or employed. According to reports in the local press, the judge overseeing the case indicated that the prince is entitled to a pension, but due to gaps in Belgian legislation, this is not possible. Laurent's lawyer, Olivier Rijckaert, stated in an interview with the Belgian newspaper Le Soir that the prince's request is not a temporary "whim" and that they are discussing whether to appeal. Rijckaert noted that a large portion of Laurent's allowance goes to professional expenses such as travel and assistant salaries, leaving the prince with a net monthly income of 5,000 euros. Rijckaert explained to Le Soir that this amount could be compared to "the average salary of a senior executive in Belgium," but it does not constitute normal "full social security coverage." Laurent, who has three adult children with his British-Belgian partner Claire Coombs, expressed concerns about his family's financial security since the royal allowance will cease upon his death. The prince, who is the 15th in line to the Belgian throne, has long been referred to as the "cursed prince" due to ongoing controversies and various gaffes and scandals. His allowance was cut after he attended an event at the Chinese Embassy in full naval uniform without the permission of the Belgian government in 2018. In 2014, Laurent had to repay 16,900 euros for billing the state for grocery receipts, ski holidays, and his children's school fees. In 2011, he caused then-king Albert II to become angry when he visited Belgium's former colony, Congo, against his father's and the state's wishes. He was also widely criticized for attending meetings in Libya while the late Muammar Gaddafi was still in power.