Why some royals wore white to the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, from Queens Letizia to Sofía – but what unconventional shade did Queen Elizabeth wear to meet Pope Francis?

May 27 , 2025

Spain’s Queen Letizia (centre) and King Felipe VI (second from right), and member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi (right), attend the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV on May 18. Photo: EPA-EFE

While US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opted for the traditional black, certain European queens and princesses followed the ‘privilège du blanc’ custom

In a sea of black, the white dresses worn by Queen Letizia of Spain and Princess Charlene of Monaco at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass stood out.

It is customary to wear black in front of the pope, and as politicians and Europe’s royals gathered in St Peter’s Square in The Vatican on May 18, most adhered to the tradition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska both opted for dark attire, while US Vice-President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance also chose sombre shades, with the second lady also wearing a black mantilla, the traditional veil worn by women during mass.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) receives applause from attendees as Pope Leo XIV mentions the situation in Ukraine during his inaugural mass in Vatican City on May 18. Photo: EPA-EFE

So why were a handful of the women from Europe’s royal families clad in virgin white? The answer is a long-held custom held by the Catholic Church called the “privilège du blanc” – the privilege of white – that permits select Catholic queens and princesses to wear white in the presence of the pontiff.

Currently, there are only seven women in the world who can exercise this right: Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Paola and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Princess Marina of Naples.

Here are some all-white looks the royals have worn in the pope’s presence.

King Felipe VI (right) and Queen Letizia of Spain attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Photo: IPA via Zuma Press

At the pontiff’s inaugural mass, Queen Letizia wore a white Redondo dress along with a white lace veil.

Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene arrive for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Reuters

Princess Charlene of Monaco, the first Monégasque princess to wear white in front of the pope, also wore a white veil and an icy hued midi-length Elie Saab dress.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco meeting with Pope Francis. Photo: @palaisprincierdemonaco/Instagram