Princess Charlene and her lookalike daughter Princess Gabriella exercised their ‘privilège du blanc’ during Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Monaco on Sunday.
The royal mother-daughter duo were joined by Prince Albert alongside young Prince Jacques for the occasion, which saw Pope Leo make his first visit to the European country since his election in May.
Both Charlene and Gabriella wore white in line with the so-called ‘privilege of the white’ – a rare exception to the historic dress code that permits only queens and princesses from Catholic countries to wear white when meeting with the Pope.
They are each one of only seven women in the world who have the rare ability to wear white when meeting with the Pope.
Called le privilége du blanc in French or il privilegio del bianco in Italian, the special tradition is extended solely to designated Catholic queens and princesses and is reserved for important events such as private audiences, canonisations, beatifications and special masses.
Normal protocol for papal audiences requires that ladies wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves, and a black mantilla.
For the outing, Charlene, 48, also donned a small brooch with the flags of Monaco and the Vatican, alongside a midi dress that contained lace detailing and a short veil, which she placed over her head in line with the necessary protocol.
While her mother opted for white heels, 11-year-old Gabriella wore white ballet flats, alongside a long coat and the same brooch as her mother.
Arriving by helicopter from Rome, the Pope was greeted by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at Monte Carlo’s heliport under radiant sunshine.
Just after he arrived at the tiny principality on the French Riviera, Leo condemned what he termed the widening ‘chasms between the poor and the rich’.
In an address in French from the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, the American Pope denounced ‘unjust configurations of power, structures of sin that dig chasms between poor and rich, between the privileged and the rejected, between friends and enemy’.
He added wealth should serve ‘law and justice, especially at a historical moment when displays of force and the logic of omnipotence wound the world and jeopardise peace’, in a clear reference to the growing number of conflicts across the globe.
Some have dubbed Leo the ‘Quiet Pope’ due to his low-key pastoral approach, often prioritising unity, listening and traditional diplomacy.
The pontiff was pictured with Prince Albert at the royal palace, with one image showing a portrait of the ruler’s mother movie star, Grace Kelly.
Bells pealed across the principality to mark Leo’s arrival in the micro-state nestled on the Mediterranean between France and Italy.
Locals gathered outside the palace, many brandishing flags in the red and white of the principality and the yellow and white of the Vatican.
From the palace, the Pope was to head to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to meet the Catholic community, then to the square in front of the Church of Saint Devota, dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco.
Pope Leo was slated to make speeches addressing environmental protection – which is a cause close to Prince Albert’s heart – Monaco’s role in Europe and ‘the protection of life in all its forms’, according to the Vatican’s press office director, Matteo Bruni.
Monaco is one of the few places in Europe where Catholicism remains the state religion, and it has long-standing diplomatic ties with The Holy See.
Though only around 8 per cent of citizens identify as practising Catholics, church pews are one of the few places where billionaires, cleaning ladies and construction workers mingle.
‘This visit is a powerful sign testifying to the Principality’s importance within the Catholic Christian world,’ Prince Albert said in an interview with local daily Nice-Matin.
The Prince added he shared with the Vatican common causes, including international solidarity and ‘the promotion of peace through sport’.
