Belgian MPs vote to cut wayward prince's £270,000 allowance after series of embarrassing gaffes

  • Belgian parliament has cut the endowment of the controversial Prince Laurent
  • Provoked anger by arriving at a Chinese diplomatic function in military uniform
  • House of Representatives voted to deduct £40,000 from his £270,000 stipend
  • Many in Belgium believe he should stand down from duties after string of gaffes 

By Rod Ardehali For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Belgian parliament has voted to slash their wayward prince's £270,000 yearly allowance after his latest gaffe in an embarrassing series of blunders.

The decision came after he arrived at a Chinese diplomatic function in military uniform without the consent of the government.

The House of Representatives voted on Friday by 93 votes to 23 for a one-time cut of around £40,000 from his annual endowment of some £270,000.

Belgian parliament has voted to slash their wayward prince's £270,000 yearly allowance after his latest gaffe in an embarrassing series of blunders. The decision came after he arrived at a Chinese diplomatic function in military uniform without the consent of the government (pictured right, in 2013, with Prince Phillip, left)

Belgian parliament has voted to slash their wayward prince's £270,000 yearly allowance after his latest gaffe in an embarrassing series of blunders. The decision came after he arrived at a Chinese diplomatic function in military uniform without the consent of the government (pictured right, in 2013, with Prince Phillip, left)

The move came despite an emotional letter from the 54-year-old brother of King Philippe saying he had never had the opportunity to pick his own career choices.

'In fact, my whole life has been the subject of a trial,' he wrote.

'Since early youth, my existence was at the service of my brother, my family and the state. 

'I could not work as I pleased or develop projects which could have given me some independence. I even had to ask for the permission to marry,' the widely quoted letter said.

The liberal Open Vld parliamentary leader, Patrick Dewael, retorted that the prince has to accept the conditions that come with an endowment.

 Many in Belgium think that Laurent should walk away from his princely duties in light of numerous scandals over the years

 Many in Belgium think that Laurent should walk away from his princely duties in light of numerous scandals over the years

'Or he rejects the endowment and he is free to do as he pleases.'

Many in Belgium think that Laurent should walk away from his princely duties in light of numerous scandals over the years. 

'Laurent has long been dubbed the royal 'enfant terrible' in the media for his long tradition of courting controversy either for his speedy driving, love of expensive furniture, former romantic connections and, now, unauthorized diplomatic visits.

Seven years ago, he earned the wrath of then-king Albert II when Prince Laurent visited Congo, Belgium's former colony, against both his wishes and those of the Belgian government.

As the brother of a king who already has four children, Laurent has no realistic chance of ever taking the throne.

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