Belgian prince loses legal battle to receive social security benefits on top of royal allowance

Prince Laurent had argued that his work entitled him to the same benefits as independent entrepreneurs but a court in Brussels disagreed

A Belgian prince has lost a legal battle to claim social security benefits on top of his royal allowance, with a court ruling his claim - the first of its kind in the country's nearly 200-year history - unfounded".

Prince Laurent, the youngest of three children of the former king and queen, had argued that his work entitled him to the coverage granted to independent entrepreneurs - and that he was acting out of principle" rather than for money.