King Umberto II of Italy with his wife, Queen Marie Jose, at the Vatican, making use of Privilège du blanc
Privilège du blanc is a privilege held by female Catholic Monarchs, also by female Catholic Consorts of Catholic Monarchs, wherein they are allowed to wear white when in an audience with the Pope. Its literal translation to English is "privilege of the white".
Traditionally, this privilege applies, or has applied, to the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, the Queens of Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Bavaria, and Poland, the Grand-Duchesses of Luxembourg and Lithuania, and also to several German Princesses.
Traditionally, this privilege applies, or has applied, to the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, the Queens of Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Bavaria, and Poland, the Grand-Duchesses of Luxembourg and Lithuania, and also to several German Princesses.
Currently, the privilège du blanc extends are Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Paola of Belgium, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. Consorts to French pretendants to the throne of France have also in the past appeared dressed in white before the Pope.
in Wikipedia
