What is Privilège du blanc:
Privilège du blanc allows a woman to wear white at a formal event with The Pope. This is a special privilege as women were traditionally required to wear black. (In the 1980s, the dress code rules were relaxed to make wearing black optional).
This tradition began in 1870 with Queen Isabella II of Spain. It has since been granted to the female Monarch/Consort of certain Catholic monarchies.
When is this Privilege Used?
“Privilège du blanc” only applies to formal occasions like: a Papal Auidence, Inauguration Mass, etc. It is not wore on every occasion involving the Pope. And is not worn at Funerals.
For informal meetings, the dress code is relaxed. Other people may where white on these occasions. And women with Privilège du blanc may choose to wear another color.
(You will sometimes see children in white during audiences with the Pope, especially those from the Catholic Monarchies that have been granted Privilège du blanc. This is a relaxation of the rules, and not that those children have been granted Privilège du blanc.)
Who has this privilege?
This privilege is limited to certain Catholic monarchies and is only given to the Female Monarch/Consort from those Monarchies. (Assuming those women are Catholic.)
In other words, to be granted this honor, you must be:
- Female
- Catholic
- Monarch or Consort (With this honor usually being retained after abdication)
- From a certain Catholic monarchy:
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Spain
- Savoy
This privilege has not been extended to all Catholic monarchies (I.e. Liechtenstein and Lesotho). Nor is it granted to Catholic Consorts of non-Catholic monarchies (E.g. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands).
List of Current Royals with Privilège du Blanc
| Country | Royal | Position | First Worn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Queen Paola | Consort of Abdicated Monarch | 2014 Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II |
– |
| Consort | 1998 Audience with John Paul II |
– | ||
| Queen Mathilde | Consort | 2015 Audience with Pope Francis |
– | |
| Luxembourg | Grand Duchess Maria Teresa | Consort | 2003 Audience with Pope John Paul II |
– |
| Monaco | Princess Charlene | Consort | 2013 Audience with Pope Benedict XVI |
Monaco was granted this honor in 2013. |
| Spain | Queen Sofia | Consort of Abdicated Monarch | 2016 Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta |
– |
| Consort | 1977 Audience with Paul VI |
– | ||
| Queen Letizia | Consort | 2014 State Visit to Vatican |
– | |
| Savoy | Princess Marina | Dowager | Not yet worn | – |
| Consort | 2003 Birthday of Pope John Paul II |
– | ||
| – | – | – | – | – |
