Only Seven Women in the World Can Wear White to Meet the Pope – And Queen Camilla Isn’t One of Them
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Rome has drawn global attention, and for good reason.
During their first official meeting with Pope Leo, history is being made, as Charles becomes the first British monarch in 500 years to pray with a pope since King Henry VIII’s break from Rome and the birth of the Church of England.
But amid this deeply symbolic reunion between two institutions with centuries of complex history, one royal tradition caught the public eye, the rare “privilege of white,” or “le privilège du blanc.”
This unique custom allows only a handful of Catholic royal women to wear white while meeting the Pope — a gesture symbolizing purity and devotion.
The exclusive list includes Princess Marina of Naples, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, along with two former queens, Sofia of Spain and Paola of Belgium, who retain the honor even after their husbands stepped down.
As the head of the Church of England, King Charles III naturally does not share the Catholic faith, and therefore Queen Camilla does not hold the same privilege.
Instead, she appeared in the traditional black attire that symbolizes respect and humility — a striking image that highlights the deep-rooted religious and cultural symbolism of royal protocol.
Their audience with Pope Leo also coincides with the papal jubilee, an event celebrated only once every 25 years, making this meeting even more historic.
After centuries marked by division, wars, and reformations, this visit stands as a powerful reminder of reconciliation — a moment where faith, diplomacy, and history meet once again under the Vatican’s timeless dome.
