Topzle Updated: Wikipedia source
Le privilège du blanc (pronounced [lə pʁivilɛʒ dy blɑ̃]; "the privilege of white") is a custom of the Catholic Church that permits certain designated female royalty to wear white clothing (traditionally a white dress and white veil) during an audience with the pope. It is an exception to the traditional requirement of women to wear black garments on formal occasions.
| mw- Catholic sovereign | on the occasion of |
| Queen Sofía of Spain | accession of husband to the Spanish throne (1975) |
| Queen Paola of Belgium | accession of husband to the Belgian throne (1993) |
| Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg | accession of husband to the Luxembourgish throne (2000) |
| The Princess of Monaco | dispensation from Pope Benedict XVI to the House of Grimaldi (2013) |
| The Queen of the Belgians | accession of husband to the Belgian throne (2013) |
| The Queen of Spain | accession of husband to the Spanish throne (2014) |
| The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | accession of husband to the Luxembourgish throne (2025) |
| Date | Catholic Royalty | Pontiff | Occasion |
| 2025 October 27 | Queen Mathilde of Belgium | Leo XIV | Private audience |
| 2025 May 18 | Queen Mathilde of BelgiumQueen Letizia of SpainMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of LuxembourgCharlene, Princess of Monaco | Leo XIV | Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV |
| 2024 September 27 | Queen Mathilde of Belgium | Francis | State visit to Belgium |
| 2023 September 15 | Queen Mathilde of Belgium | Francis | Private audience |
| 2018 October 14 | Queen Sofía of Spain | Francis | Canonization of Pope Paul VI |
| 2016 September 4 | Queen Sofía of Spain | Francis | Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta |
| 2016 March 21 | Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Francis | Private audience[verification needed] |
| 2016 January 18 | Charlene, Princess of Monaco | Francis | State visit to the Vatican |
| 2015 March 9 | Queen Mathilde of Belgium | Francis | Private audience |
| 2014 June 30 | Queen Letizia of Spain | Francis | State visit to the Vatican |
| 2014 April 27 | Queen Paola of BelgiumQueen Sofía of SpainGrand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg | Francis | Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II |
| 2013 March 19 | Queen Paola of BelgiumMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Francis | Inaugural Mass of Pope Francis |
| 2013 January 12 | Charlene, Princess of Monaco | Benedict XVI | Private audience |
| 2011 May 1 | Queen Paola of BelgiumMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Benedict XVI | Beatification of Pope John Paul II |
| 2009 October 10 | Queen Paola of Belgium | Benedict XVI | Private audience |
| 2006 May 8 | Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Benedict XVI | Private audience |
| 2005 April 24 | Queen Sofía of SpainMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Benedict XVI | Inaugural Mass of Pope Benedict XVI |
| 2004 October 3 | Queen Fabiola of Belgium | John Paul II | Beatification of Charles I of Austria |
| 2003 May 18 | Marina, Princess of Naples | John Paul II | Birthday of Pope John Paul II |
| 2003 March 23 | Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of LuxembourgPrincess Alexandra of Luxembourg | John Paul II | Private audience |
| 1998 May 15 | Queen Paola of Belgium | John Paul II | Private audience |
| 1981 April 30 | Queen Sofía of Spain | John Paul II | Private audience |
| 1978 October 22 | Josephine Charlotte, Grand Duchess of LuxembourgQueen Sofía of Spain | John Paul II | Inaugural Mass of Pope John Paul II |
| 1978 September 3 | Fabiola, Queen of the BelgiansQueen Sofía of SpainJosephine Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | John Paul I | Inaugural Mass of Pope John Paul I |
| 1977 February 10 | Queen Sofía of Spain | Paul VI | Private audience |
| 1965 May 6 | Josephine Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | Paul VI | Private audience[citation needed] |
| 1961 June 9 | Fabiola, Queen of the Belgians | John XXIII | Private audience |
| 1939 December 28 | Queen Elena of ItalyMarie José, Princess of Piedmont | Pius XII | Papal visit to the Quirinal Palace[verification needed] |
| 1939 January 23 | Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy | Pius XI | Private audience after wedding |
| 1935 March 4 | Emanuela de Borbón, Duchess of Anjou and Segovia | Pius XI | Private audience after wedding |
| 1930 January 8 | Marie José, Princess of Piedmont | Pius XI | Private audience after wedding |
| 1929 December 28 | Princess Adelaide of Savoy | Pius XI | Private audience[verification needed] |
| 1929 December 7 | Princess Giovanna of SavoyPrincess Maria Francesca of Savoy | Pius XI | Private audience[verification needed] |
| 1929 December 5 | Queen Elena of ItalyPrincess Hélène of OrléansElisabeth, Queen of BelgiumPrincess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | Pius XI | Private audience after signing of the Lateran Treaty[verification needed] |
| 1923 November 19 | Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain | Pius XI | Private audience[verification needed] |