The centuries-old rule that allows just seven royal women to wear white in the presence of the Pope

Over the coming months, expect to see royals from across the world be granted a coveted private audience with the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV.

An invitation to meet with the leader of the Catholic church at the Vatican is a rare opportunity afforded to heads of state, royalty and other important people of influence.

But there is a strict dress code that must be adhered to, and there are just seven royal ladies worldwide granted a special honour denied to others.

Queen Letizia of Spain was one of a select group of royal women allowed to wear white at Pope Leo's inauguration on May 18, 2025.

That rule was in force at two recent history making-events: the funeral of Pope Francis in April and the inauguration of his successor, Pope Leo, last week.

Known as the 'privilège du blanc', or the privilege of the white, the honour allows select royal women to wear white in the presence of the Pontiff.

Everyone else must either wear black, or another colour.

A strict dress code

For centuries the traditional attire for women who meet His Holiness is a black dress with long sleeves and a lace mantilla, or veil.

Knees are usually covered and tights (or pantyhose) is worn.

Notable royals who have followed this rule over the years include the late Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, Princess Grace of Monaco, Queen Mary of Denmark, Queen Silvia of Sweden and more recently Queen Camilla.

For that meeting, which happened at the last minute during the King's tour of Italy after the Vatican previously cancelled the visit because of Francis' ailing health, Queen Camilla was dressed in black and without a veil.

When the Duchess of Cornwall, as she was known then, met with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, she stuck to tradition by wearing a lace veil and long-sleeved dress.

But in April, 2017, Camilla caused a stir when she wore a pale gold dress and coat by Anna Valentine to meet with Pope Francis, and no head covering.

Many saw it as a break in royal protocol and a defiance of the Vatican's strict dress code.

However, the Holy See quickly issued a statement confirming the modern Pope Francis had welcomed the look, following a slight relaxation in the rules.

"Things have become more relaxed over the last few years there are no hard and fast rules," a spokesperson for the Vatican explained at the time.

Queen Elizabeth II chose a lilac suit by Angela Kelly with a matching hat when she met Pope Francis in 2014.

While wearing colour is now acceptable when in the presence of the Pope, women are still advised to avoid white.

If they do, they run the risk of causing offence to a privileged group of royal women.

Privilège du blanc

Just seven senior royals from around the world officially qualify for the 'privilège du blanc' dress code: the wearing of a white outfit with a white head covering.

In Italian, the official language of the Holy See, the rule is known as il privilegio del blanco.

Princess Charlene is one of seven royal women afforded the privilege of the white and exercised that right at the Pope's inauguration mass.

They are Queen Letizia of Spain and her mother-in-law Queen Sofia, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her mother-in-law Queen Paola, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Princess Charlene of Monaco and Princess Marina of the House of Savoy (in Italy).

The honour is extended to royals from Catholic countries and to the royal houses whose regents have been given the title '(Most) Catholic Majesty', or Rex catholicissimus.and who preside over a predominately Catholic country.

Catholic monarchs who have remained loyal to the Vatican over the centuries are granted the privilege and the wearing of white is symbolic of the purity and innocence of these heads of state.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is also part of the select group of seven.

Princess Charlene was the most recent royal to be granted the privilège du blanc in 2013 when she met with Pope Benedict XVI.

Her late mother-in-law Princess Grace was not afforded the honour during her time as wife of Prince Rainier III, despite Monaco being a Catholic country.

That's because Monaco is a principality and not a monarchy and during Princess Grace's life, the privilege had not yet been extended to the House of Grimaldi.

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier had met with Pope Pius XII in 1957, Pope John XXIII in 1959 and Pope Paul VI in 1974, with Grace wearing black on all occasions.

Although Princess Charlene has the privilege du blanc, in July 2022 she chose to wear black when meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican, for unknown reasons.

Royal women who can't wear white

At Pope Leo's inauguration on May 18, there were other royal women present who wore black including Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, who is Lutheran.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands also wore black even though she is a Catholic. But her husband, King Willem-Alexander is Protestant.

The royal ladies in white stood out from the other guests at Pope Leo's inauguration on May 18.

Many had met with previous popes in the years gone by, wearing black on those occasions too.

That's because royals from countries that aren't Catholic must either wear black or other colours.

Denmark, another Lutheran country, meant then-Crown Princess Mary wore black when she and her husband met Pope Francis in 2018.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore black, sticking to the traditional dress code of the Vatican.

Queen Rania of Jordan, which is a predominantly Muslim country, wore black and a white headscarf when she and King Abdullah II met Pope Francis in 2013.

There are exceptions to the black rule, with royal women allowed to wear other colours as Elizabeth II did when she wore lilac.

But most choose to adhere to the traditional black dress code.

Many non-royal women have also chosen to follow the traditional dress code of black with a veil when meeting the Pontiff, including US First Lady Melania Trump in 2017, former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009 and Amal Clooney in 2016.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie, caused outrage among Catholics worldwide when she wore white to meet with Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

The following day, headlines around the world suggested she had a "grand idea of herself".

The Vatican is also a monarchy

The Pope is not only head of the Catholic church but he is also head of state, or sovereign, of the Vatican which is an elective monarchy.

Much of the pomp and ceremony of the royal court of the Vatican has now gone, but some things – such as the Swiss Guard – remain.

Pope Paul VI was the last Pontiff to stop wearing the papal tiara, or crown, within weeks of his coronation in 1963. His was also the last papal coronation.

And it was Pope John Paul II who replaced the old-fashioned sedia gestatoria – the throne-like chair held on the shoulders of men and used to carry popes during formal ceremonies – with the Popemobile in 1978.

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