Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco traveled to the Vatican for a private meeting with Pope Francis after the glamorous ball, where she appeared in a super-sophisticated Prada dress. Charlene chose a black ensemble, following the tradition for such a visit, although already at the previous audience, in 2016, she received permission from the Pope to wear white.
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Photo: BTA
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On Wednesday, the couple met with the head of the Roman Catholic Church at the Apostolic Library. During their 25-minute visit, they exchanged gifts: Pope Francis presented them with a bronze image of a child helping another child up from the ground with the words “love” and “help” engraved on the sides of the figures.
Prince Albert, 64, presented the Pope with a painting of the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, located in the royal palace of Monaco.
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Photo: BTA
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For the occasion, Princess Charlene, 44, wore a black gown with a bateau neckline and a rosary necklace, along with a black lace veil called a mantilla. The ensemble resembled those worn by other famous women during their visits to the Pope, including first lady Dr. Jill Biden in October 2021 and former first lady Melania Trump in May 2017.
In the past, however, Princess Charlene has chosen to wear white for an audience with the Pope. In fact, she is one of only seven women to be given “white privilege.” Called “le privil ge du blanc” in French or “il privilegio del biacno” in Italian, the special tradition is extended only to certain Catholic queens and princesses and is usually a trademark of important Vatican events – such as private audiences, canonizations, beatifications and special liturgies.
The small group of women who have white privilege include Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Paola of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Marina of Naples and Princess Charlene.
Princess Charlene has worn white to two previous meetings at the Vatican: during an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 and with Pope Francis before that in 2016.
Prince Albert’s parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, were received by Pope Pius XII in 1957, John XXIII in 1959 and Paul VI in 1974. In 2005, Prince Albert’s first public appearance as a sovereign outside of Monaco was his presence at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
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Photo: BTA
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