The new Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg, Guillaume and Stéphanie, accompanied by their children, have traveled to the Vatican for the first time since the start of their reign. They have held the position only briefly: since October 3, following the abdication of Grand Duke Henri.
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg arrived like this: dressed in white, when the usual protocol dictates that one should wear black before the pope. This “privilege” of dress is not simply a matter of clothing, but a sign of Vatican protocol and a symbolic tradition.
It represents a rich history: a pontifical concession for the queens of Catholic royal houses, allowing their white dress to be the exception to the rule.
Only queens or royalty belonging to these four states can wear white before the pope: Spain, Belgium, Monaco, and finally, Luxembourg.
Queen Letizia, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and Princess Charlène of Monaco represent the other royal houses whose main religion is Catholicism.
Since his election, Pope Leo XIV has received numerous members of royal houses: many of them were at his inaugural pontifical Mass, and not long ago, he also received Prince Albert II of Monaco in a private audience—this time without the company of one of the few people who can wear white before him, Princess Charlène.
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