There are only a few ladies that are allowed to wear white: Queens of Catholic countries or the wives of the heads of state of Catholic countries.
The big question is why she has her head bared?
Le privilège du blanc, or “the privilege of the white,” is a term describing the custom where certain designated women are allowed to wear a white dress and veil during audiences with the pope, rather than the traditional black dress. A reigning Catholic queen or princess is given this privilege at the behest of the pope.
Today, only seven catholic monarchs have the privilege.
The seven who do have it are:
Queen Sofía of Spain – Accession of husband to the Spanish throne in 1975
Queen Paola of the Belgians – Accession of husband to the Belgian throne in 1993
Maria Teresa, The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg – Accession of husband to the Luxembourgish throne in 2000
The Princess of Monaco – Dispensation from Pope Benedict XVI to the House of Grimaldi in 2013
Queen Mathilde of Belgium – Accession of husband to the Belgian throne in 2013
Queen Letizia of Spain – Accession of husband to the Spanish throne in 2014
The Princess of Naples – Dispensation from Pope Pius XI to the House of Savoy in 1929
Notice that Queen Elizabeth of England (etc) is not on the list, nor is Camila although she showed up in a white coat.
Yes, I am aware that the Queen of England is not Catholic; she is the head of the Church of England. She does not have the privilege to wear white when having an audience with the Pope. She has visited the Pope and wore black.
Camilla is also Anglican (or Church of England) is not a Queen and not Catholic and is not likely to become either. Yet Camilla did wear white to an audience with the Pope AND did not wear a hat or head-covering, thereby going against protocol.
There are only a few ladies that are allowed to wear white: Queens of Catholic countries or the wives of the heads of state of Catholic countries.
The big question is why she has her head bared?
Le privilège du blanc, or “the privilege of the white,” is a term describing the custom where certain designated women are allowed to wear a white dress and veil during audiences with the pope, rather than the traditional black dress. A reigning Catholic queen or princess is given this privilege at the behest of the pope.
Today, only seven catholic monarchs have the privilege. The seven who do have it are:
Notice that Queen Elizabeth of England (etc) is not on the list, nor is Camila although she showed up in a white coat.
The queen of England isn’t catholic. I would guess she’s Anglican in public. Same for Camilla who is not a queen nor ever will be.
Yes, I am aware that the Queen of England is not Catholic; she is the head of the Church of England. She does not have the privilege to wear white when having an audience with the Pope. She has visited the Pope and wore black.
Camilla is also Anglican (or Church of England) is not a Queen and not Catholic and is not likely to become either. Yet Camilla did wear white to an audience with the Pope AND did not wear a hat or head-covering, thereby going against protocol.