Privilege du blanc - wikipedia Privilege du blanc This article is about sartorial protocol for royal persons within the Vatican. For the sociological concept, see White privilege. Queen Elena of Italy and Crown Princess Marie - José wearing white garments in the presence of Pope Pius XII at the Quirinal Palace on 27 December 1939. Le privilège du blanc ( Italian : Il privilegio del bianco ) is a French term meaning `` the privilege of the white '' used for a Catholic custom whereby certain designated women are permitted to wear a white dress and veil during audiences with the Pope. This is an exception to the tradition of women wearing black on such occasions. Those who have been permitted to wear white include the Queens of Belgium, Italy and Spain, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Princess of Monaco, and the princesses of the House of Savoy. The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household sometimes issues instructions in advance when the privilege may be used, such as during papal audiences, papal coronations, significant liturgical events or inaugural masses of the Pope within the Vatican. A reigning Catholic queen or princess retains this privilege at the discretion of the Pope, by remaining a Catholic in good public standing, through marriage to another Catholic monarch, or simply by grant of the Pope at his dispensation. Catholic royalty may freely choose whether to exercise the privilege depending on the importance of occasion ; if they do n't, this is termed as `` declining the privilege '', and the fact of choosing to wear black garments at certain points of Papal audiences does not negate her privilege to be dressed in white. Contents 1 History 2 List of eligibility 3 In recent years 4 List of occasions used 5 References 6 Notes 7 External links History Princess Grace did not have the privilege, and so she is dressed in black for this audience with the pope. Later her successor Charlene received the privilege from Pope Benedict XVI. The Princess Charlene of Monaco meeting Pope Francis on an official state visit at the Vatican. In the Roman Catholic tradition, black garments signify both virtues of piety and humility. Protocol for papal audiences formerly required that women wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves, and a black mantilla. Certain Catholic queens and princesses have traditionally been exempted from wearing black. The privilege is not used by the wives of all Catholic monarchs or by the wives of non-Catholic monarchs. Even though they are Catholics, it is not accorded to the Queen of Lesotho or the Princess of Liechtenstein. The privilege is also not accorded to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who is the Catholic wife of the Protestant King Willem - Alexander. List of eligibility The following living royal ladies are currently eligible for the privilege : Kingdom Duchy Principality Royal personage granted for On the occasion of : HM Queen Sofía of Spain Accession of husband to the Spanish throne in 1975 HM Queen Paola of the Belgians Accession of husband to the Belgian throne in 1993 HRH The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Accession of husband to the Luxembourgish throne in 2000 HSH The Princess of Monaco Dispensation from Pope Benedict XVI to the House of Grimaldi in 2013 HM The Queen of the Belgians Accession of husband to the Belgian throne in 2013 HM The Queen of Spain Accession of husband to the Spanish throne in 2014 HRH The Princess of Naples Dispensation from Pope Pius XI to the House of Savoy in 1929 In recent years Marina, Princess of Naples, wife of the Head of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, used the privilege on 18 May 2003 during a Mass marking the birth anniversary of Pope John Paul II. For the first time in Monégasque history on 12 January 2013, Charlene, Princess of Monaco, used the privilege in an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy See Press Office later issued a press release stating that `` in accordance with prescribed ceremonial of the Vatican for Catholic Sovereigns, the Princess ( of Monaco ) was allowed to dress in white. '' Charlene used the privilege again on 18 January 2016 when visiting Pope Francis as part of an official state visit to the Vatican with her husband, Albert II, Prince of Monaco. Cherie Blair ( wife of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair ) was criticised for wearing white garments when visiting Pope Benedict XVI on 28 April 2006. Blair was speaking at a Vatican conference on children and youth. Pope Benedict, hearing she was at the Vatican, requested she meet with him, only giving her a few minutes ' notice and forcing her to rush in her day clothes to accommodate the Pope 's request. List of occasions used The privilège du blanc is not used for every meeting with the Pope, but most often only reserved for the most important occasions at the Vatican and remains at the discretion to follow by the royal person, sometimes through invitation by the Prefect of Pontifical Household. The privilege, however is retained at the dispensation of the Pope. Among the occasions when the privilège du blanc has been used are the following : Date of visit Queen / Princess Supreme Pontiff Occasion 2016 September 4 Queen Sofía of Spain Francis Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta 2016 March 21 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Francis Private audience 2016 January 18 Princess Charlene of Monaco Francis State visit to the Vatican 2015 March 9 Queen Mathilde of Belgium Francis Private audience 2014 June 30 Queen Letizia of Spain Francis State visit to the Vatican 2014 April 27 Queen Sofía of Spain Queen Paola of Belgium Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Francis Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II 2013 March 19 Queen Paola of Belgium Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Francis Inaugural mass of Pope Francis 2013 January 12 Princess Charlene of Monaco Benedict XVI Private audience 2011 May 1 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Queen Paola of Belgium Benedict XVI Beatification of Pope John Paul II 2009 October 10 Queen Paola of Belgium Benedict XVI Private audience 2006 May 8 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Benedict XVI Private audience 2005 April 24 Queen Sofía of Spain Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Benedict XVI Inaugural mass of Pope Benedict XVI 2004 October 3 Queen Fabiola of Belgium John Paul II Beatification of Charles I of Austria 2003 May 18 Princess of Naples, Marina of Savoy John Paul II Birthday of Pope John Paul II 2003 March 23 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg John Paul II Private audience 1998 May 15 Queen Paola of Belgium John Paul II Private audience 1981 April 30 Queen Sofía of Spain John Paul II Private audience 1978 October 22 Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg Queen Sofía of Spain John Paul II Inaugural mass of Pope John Paul II 1978 September 3 Queen Fabiola of Belgium Queen Sofía of Spain Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg John Paul I Inaugural mass of Pope John Paul I 1977 February 10 Queen Sofía of Spain Paul VI Private audience 1965 May 6 Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg Paul VI Private audience 1961 June 9 Queen Fabiola of Belgium John XXIII Private audience 1939 December 28 Queen Elena of Italy Princess Marie José of Piedmont Pius XII Papal visit to the Quirinal Palace 1939 January 23 Princess Maria of Savoy Pius XI Private audience after wedding 1930 January 8 Princess Marie José of Piedmont Pius XI Private audience after wedding 1929 December 28 Princess Maria Adelaide of Savoy Pius XI Private audience 1929 December 7 Princess Giovanna of Savoy Princess Maria of Savoy Pius XI Private audience 1929 December 5 Queen Elena of Italy Princess Helene, Duchess of Aosta Queen of Belgium, Elizabeth of Bavaria Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon - Two Sicilies Pius XI Private audience after signing of the Lateran Treaty 1923 November 19 Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain Pius XI Private audience References Jump up ^ James - Charles Noonan, Jr., The Church Visible : The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church ( New York : Viking, 1996 ), 411. Jump up ^ George Seldes, The Vatican : Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow ( New York : Harper & Brothers, 1934 ), 125. Jump up ^ Fabio Cassani Pironti, Ordini in ordine : manuale d'uso decorazioni per il corpo diplomatico accreditato presso la Santa Sede, il Sovrano militare Ordine di Malta ed i rispettivi dignitari ( Roma : Laurus Robuffo, 2004 ), 42 and 87. Jump up ^ Queen Maxima of Netherlands before the Most Supreme Pontiff Francis -- https://incaelo.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/3825095939.jpg?w=964 ^ Jump up to : `` Marina in San Pietro con tailleur bianco '', Corriere della Sera ( 19 maggio 2003 ). Jump up ^ `` His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Holds an Audience with TSHs Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. ( VIDEO ) ''. The Royal Correspondent. Jump up ^ `` White outfit, wrong occasion, Cherie ''. Telegraph Online. Jump up ^ Association, Press ( 28 April 2006 ). `` Cherie Blair gets surprise audience with Pope ''. Retrieved 1 October 2016 -- via The Guardian. Jump up ^ `` Pope Francis Receives Queen Sofía of Spain '' Jump up ^ `` Pope Francis receives Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg ''. news.va. Retrieved 1 October 2016. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. ^ Jump up to : Mantilla With Me. `` Catholic Mantilla - Will You Mantilla With Me ? : Politicos and Popes : Mantilla Action in the Vatican ''. mantillawithme.blogspot.ca. ^ Jump up to : Princeps Fidelissimus. `` Noble y Real ''. nobleyreal.blogspot.ca. Jump up ^ Photonews. `` Pope Jean - Paul II and queen Fabiola of Belgium ''. Getty Images. Jump up ^ `` The Glittering Casa Savoia ''. Jump up ^ Photographic image. Getty Images. Jump up ^ Sydney Luxarazzi. `` Luxarazzi : Luxarazzi 101 : The Grand Ducal Family at the Vatican ''. lux-arazzi.blogspot.ca. Jump up ^ `` Catholic Northwest Progress May 14, 1965 Page 1 ''. stparchive.com. Jump up ^ `` Privilege for Fabiola '', New York Times ( June 10, 1961 ), 10. Jump up ^ Photo with Pope John XIII Jump up ^ `` Speeches 1939 - PIUS XII ''. vatican.va. Retrieved 1 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Italian Princes See Pope : Duke and Duchess of Genoa Among Seven of House of Savoy Present ''. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 1929 - 12 - 29. ISSN 0362 - 4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 08. Pope Pius received additional Princes of the ruling House of Savoy in audience today. They included the Duke and Duchess of Genoa, the Prince of Udine, the Duke of Pistoia, the Duke of Bergamo, Princess Maria Adelaide and the Duke of Ancona. Jump up ^ `` Prince and Sisters Pay Visit to Pope '', New York Times ( December 8, 1929 ), 5. Jump up ^ British Pathe 1929 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZuqIC7gs4 Jump up ^ `` Italy 's Sovereigns Make First Visit to Pope '', New York Times ( December 6, 1929 ), 1. Jump up ^ `` Alfonso Received in Papal Splendor '', New York Times ( November 20, 1923 ), 7. Jump up ^ `` DINASTÍAS - Los Foros de la Realeza Ver Tema - LOS PRIMOS HERMANOS DEL REY ''. forogratis.es. Retrieved 1 October 2016. Notes Jump up ^ Charlene of Monaco did not obtain the privilege in 2011 upon her marriage to a Catholic monarch, rather was gifted for her upcoming birthday by Pope Benedict XVI on 2013 for the matrimonial commitment of raising their children in the Roman Catholic faith. External links Media related to Privilège du blanc at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Privilège_du_blanc&oldid = 826069881 '' Categories : Holy See Roman Catholic religious clothing Roman Catholic monarchs Hidden categories : Articles containing Italian - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español Français Hrvatski Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 17 February 2018, at 00 : 55. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who is allowed to wear white when visiting the pope
Answer: A reigning Catholic queen or princess