Leone XIV has risen to the papal throne of so much time that we cannot yet know how attacked to the protocol. However, we can assume that the royalty who will participate on Sunday 18 May in the Pontificate beginning mass they will respect the provisions of the Vatican ceremonial. The Spanish, Belgian royalty, the Swedish hereditary princess and the Dutch sovereign have already confirmed their presence at the “intonization” ceremony. Letizia of Spain And Mathilde del Belgiumas Catholic queens enjoy the so -called “privilege of white». Although of Catholic religion but married to a Protestant king, Maxima d’Ondlanda He will have to dress in black. Same goes for Victoria of SwedenLutheran. At least this is what is requested by the label of the Holy See.
When we write we don’t know if the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg And Charlène di Monaco They will be in St. Peter’s Square while they are not expected in Rome Paola del Belgium, Sofia of Spain And Marina Doriawidow of Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia: These are the names of the other real to which it is allowed to dress in white in the presence of the Pope.
There is talk of “privilege”, in fact, why The Dress code it would impose black as a sign of respect and humility. Furthermore, for the same reason, necklines, short skirts (or in any case above the knee), short sleeves, discoveries and sandals in addition to the fact that the veil should be wore to cover the hair as it commonly made in church until a few decades ago would be banned.
The Dress code it was widely respected. The Catholic Queens Letizia of Spain and Mathilde of Belgium have worn a veil on the head as well as Melania Trump. Among the men, Donald Trump and Prince William opted for a blue suit while Zelensky preferred black
It is difficult to clarify the origins of this prerogative of which the Catholic sovereigns in office benefits, emergence or consorts (including Grand Duchesse like Maria Teresa and princesses like Charlène di Monaco). The most accredited hypothesis suggests that it was Pius VII (Pope from 11800 to 1823) to allow the Spanish sovereign to dress in white as a sign of gratitude for the loyalty shown in Rome by the Kingdom. One of the sovereigns who was able to dress in white to a hearing with the Pope, then Pius XI, was in 1923 the Queen Vittoria Eugenia of Spain. The privilege from Catholic Spain would have extended to the other Catholic majesty of the time, some of these in the meantime lapsed in the transition from the monarchy to the Republic.
If it is difficult to find punctual information, in hypothesizing how the royalty will be dressed in the Pontificate Start Mass of Leone XIVhowever, we can go to see what happened in the past decades, remembering that from the 80s the rules have loosened. For example, Men is allowed to wear complete jacket and tie instead of the tailcoat And women can keep with their heads over discovered.
In a shot of thesettlement of John Paul II occurred on October 22, 1978 we see King Juan Carlos and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean in uniform (who owns a military degree can do it) while, for example, Ranieri di Monaco is in “White Tie”. However, only the queen are in white Sofia of Spainshe with the traditional mantle and the peinet (the comb), and the Granduchess Joséphine-CharlotteWhile Grace di Monaco is dressed in black. On this last point we will return.
In 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI began his ministry, we find Sofia of Spain with white dress, mantle And Peineta, For Luxembourg the Grand Duke Henri in uniform and the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa in white with the veiled head.
To the same mass Mathilde del Belgiumone of the most rigorous sovereigns in compliance with the “privilege of white”, was dressed in black. Why? In 2005 he was not yet queen so the color reserved for her was black. If Philippe del Belgium opted for the uniform, Alberto di Monaco, in office as a sovereign prince since April 6 of that year, was in a mesh. However he wore a black bandan element that indicated that it was still in mourning for the disappearance of the father.
March 19, 2013 was Francesco’s turn. Paola del Belgium He participated in the ceremony dressed in white with the veil next to her husband Alberto with a blue suit. Alberto di Monaco presented herself with dark dress and gray tie while his wife, Charlène, had one outfit black with the veil like Grace di Monaco in 1978.
Dark clothes, inconspicuous jewels, no ostentation of luxury, black tie for men and some veiled garments for women: this is how we expect they will dress in the funeral of the royal pontiff, heads of state and government, First Ladies and high -profile personality
Only a few months earlier he made the meeting between the Monegasque Real and Benedict XVI: Charlène was in fact dressed in white unlike Princess Grace who, despite being Catholic, never had the same privilege. Charlène, on the other hand, converted in 2011 on the eve of the wedding with Alberto, he obtained, before the history of the Principality, the papal dispensation.
In the beginning there was a mistake, a failure to respect the protocol. It was precisely the press room of the Holy See to specify with a note that “In accordance with the ceremonial prescribed by the Vatican for Catholic sovereigns, the princess was allowed to dress in white». However, some commentators are still wondering why ai royalty of Liechtensteinalso of Catholic faith, continue to dress in black. Let’s say, to simplify, that their permission has not been granted to them, which was probably not even asked.
Letizia of Spain at the ceremony for Bergoglio wore black clothes and veil (Not mantle And peinet). The real became queen only the following year, on June 19, 2014: when the neo-Sovrana met Pope Francis on June 30, 2014, the first visit abroad of Felipe VI, was able to exploit his “white privilege”. Maxima d’Ondlanda in 2013 was very respectful of the ceremonial: for her long and sober dress and veil on the head.
Queen Elisabetta who at the settlement of Benedict XVI sent Prince Filippo, for Bergoglio instead sent the representation instead Duke and the Duchess of Gloucesterthe latter dressed in a black protocol. At the Pontificate Start Mass of Leone XIV instead King Carlo chose his brother, Prince Edoardowho will participate without his wife, Sophie of Edinburg.
If the protocol is respected, we therefore expect to see a square crowded with people dressed in dark where they will push a truly small number of women dressed in white (and some traditional not black dress obviously allowed by the ceremonial).
Mathilde del Belgiumnow sovereign, when he goes to the hearing in the Vatican It is used to show off the same dressa coat dress With a lifetime bow signed by Meer Couture, with and without veil. The Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg it could wear a ensemble white without veiling your head: At the funeral of Bergoglio he was in chief uncovered. Hardly Letizia of Spain He will satisfy traditional lovers who would like it with the traditional Mantiglia but with good approximation will be dressed in white and probably with a veil.
It is difficult to make forecasts on the latest arrival of this “exclusive club” of real, as someone defines it. On the occasion of the last hearing by Pope Francis Charlène di Monaco in 2022 dressed in black despite “Le Privilège du Blanc“ Unlike what he did in 2013 and 2016 when he visited the pontiff taking advantage of the prerogative. As label experts suggest We are talking about a tradition and not an obligation. If the Monegasque princess arrives dressed in black, it certainly does not make a mistake.
Source: Vanity Fair
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