page_title: Privilège du blanc
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Privilège du blanc / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Vatican meeting Pope Francis
context_page_description: Le privilège du blanc is a French term meaning "the privilege of white" used for a Catholic custom whereby certain designated royal 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.
context_section_description: 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 designated Catholic queens and princesses have traditionally been exempted from wearing black garments. 
  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, nor to the wife of the Co-Prince of Andorra. The privilege is also not accorded to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who is the Catholic wife of the Protestant King Willem-Alexander.
caption: The Princess of Monaco meeting Pope Francis on an official state visit at the Vatican.
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