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Le privilège du blanc (pronounced [lə pʁivilɛʒ dy blɑ̃]; "the privilege of the white") is a custom of the Catholic Church that permits certain designated female royalty to wear white clothing (traditionally a white dress and white veil) during an audience with the pope. It is an exception to the traditional requirement of women to wear black garments on such occasions, which has become optional since the 1980s.

History

Traditionally, the protocol for papal audiences required women to wear a long black garment with long sleeves, and a black veil, the colour of which signified the virtues of piety and humility. The queens of Portugal, Italy, Belgium and Spain were exempt from this rule, as were the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and the princesses of the House of Savoy.

Those permitted to wear white garments include the Queens of Spain and Belgium, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and the Princess of Monaco.

The 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 nonetheless traditionally been exempted from wearing black garments.

The privilege is not used by the wives of all Catholic monarchs or by the Catholic wives of non-Catholic monarchs. Even though they are Catholics, it is not accorded to the Queen of Lesotho, the Princess of Liechtenstein, the Māori Queen, or the Queen of the Afro-Bolivians. It is also not accorded to the wife of a President of France, even though the French President is ex-officio 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.

List of eligibility

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As of 2023, the following living royal women are eligible for the privilege:

In recent years

Marina, Princess of Naples, wife of the former Head of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, used the privilege on 18 May 2003 during a Catholic 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 declaring the following:

"…in accordance with prescribed ceremonial of the Vatican for Catholic sovereigns, the princess was allowed to dress in white."

Charlene availed 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.

List of occasions used

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Among the occasions when the privilège du blanc has been exercised are the following:

References

1. James-Charles Noonan, Jr., The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church (New York: Viking, 1996), 411.
2. "His Catholic Majesty".
3. George Seldes, The Vatican: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1934), 125.
4. 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.
5. "Only 7 Women in the World Can Wear White to Officially Meet the Pope | Articles". 21 August 2017.
6. "Marina in San Pietro con tailleur bianco". Corriere della Sera. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
7. Ledbetter, Carly (2017-05-24). "Here's Why Melania Trump Wore Black To Meet The Pope". HuffPost. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
8. Barcelona, Ainhoa (2016-01-18). "Princess Charlene of Monaco is a vision in white as she meets the Pope". HELLO!. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
9. "Pope Francis receives Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg". news.va. Archived from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
10. "Privilege for Fabiola", New York Times (June 10, 1961), 10.
11. "Speeches 1939 - PIUS XII". vatican.va. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
12. "Italian Princes See Pope: Duke and Duchess of Genoa Among Seven of House of Savoy Present". The New York Times (published 1929-12-29). 29 December 1929. 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.
13. "Prince and Sisters Pay Visit to Pope", New York Times (December 8, 1929), 5.
14. "Italy's Sovereigns Make First Visit to Pope", New York Times (December 6, 1929), 1.
15. "Alfonso Received in Papal Splendor", New York Times (November 20, 1923), 7.

External links

• Media related to Privilège du blanc at Wikimedia Commons

• Holy See awards
• Catholic religious clothing
• Non-clerical religious clothing
• Role status
• Roman Catholic monarchs
• Royal dresses
• Culture of Vatican City
• Women and the papacy
• Women's clothing
• Women in Vatican City