Even judged by the average royal family member, this person must be quite the arsehole:

Laurent received €388,000 (£333,000) last year from state coffers and lives in his home rent-free. “This is not about financial means but principle,” he told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. “When a migrant comes here, he registers, he has a right to it. I may be a migrant too, but one whose family established the state in place,” he added.

WTF?!

Talking about deeper motivations, I suspect this made him throw a hissy fit:

In 2018, his annual state allowance was cut by 15% for a year because he met foreign dignitaries without the federal government’s approval.

Reading more of the article he says a few things that seem to make sense on the surface:

Laurent and his British wife, Claire, have three children now in their 20s. He pointed to medical costs and his concerns over his family’s financial well-being, since the royal allowance will be cut when he dies.

- until you consider that he does get 32 000 euro per month.

I’m glad to hear that Belgium treats its royalty like normal people.

He said Laurent received a salary worth only 25% of his allowance, because the rest went on covering professional expenses including travel and wages for a staff member.

So he’s not counting it because… he spends it. Weird take.

Rijckaert said this results in a monthly net wage for the prince of €5,000 which is comparable to the “average salary of a senior executive in Belgium” but without the usual “full social security coverage”.

Not a bad wage just for being born.

They should have told him if it’s about principles not money, if he is “retiring” then he’ll no longer need his “salary” so he can choose between his allowance and royal accommodation and the pension.

Of course it’s about money. It always is. He is just another entitled wanker who thinks he “deserves” while others “take”.

Sounds like it’s time for Belgium to become a republic. Perhaps the French have some input on how to go about establishing one.