Princess Charlene exercises rare papal privilege during meeting with Pope Leo

Princess Charlene of Monaco exercised the centuries-old privilège du blanc as she met Pope Leo XIV in Metz, wearing an elegant all-white ensemble.

The Princess was accompanied by her husband, Prince Albert II, as they attended the conference “At the Roots of Europe: For Peace and Unity” at the Robert Schuman Conference Centre on Monday.

The gathering formed part of Pope Leo’s four-day pastoral visit to France, which concluded in Metz.

The Monégasque couple were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, while Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg was also among those attending.

Pope Leo addressed issues including migration, conflict and European unity during the conference, telling those gathered that Europe was “entering a new stage in its long history” with the arrival of people fleeing war and persecution.

For the occasion, Princess Charlene wore a white Dior trousersuit and carried a small Lady D-Joy handbag.

Her choice of white was significant.

Under traditional papal protocol, most women meeting the Pope wear black. However, the privilège du blanc – or “privilege of white” – is an exception granted to a small number of Catholic queens and princesses.

The privilege is currently enjoyed by fewer than ten royal women, including Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and the Grand Duchesses of Luxembourg.

Princess Charlene first exercised the privilege during an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.

Brigitte Macron, who does not hold the privilege, wore black in keeping with traditional etiquette.

Known in Italian as the privilegio del bianco, the tradition originated as a historical concession by the Holy See to Catholic sovereigns.

Although the privilege formally applies to audiences with the Pope in the Vatican, royal women entitled to it have also occasionally worn white when meeting the pontiff elsewhere.