Prince Albert, Pope Francis and Princess Charlene.Photo: Vatican Media/CPP/IPA/INSTARimages
Princess CharleneandPrince Albertof Monaco traveled to the Vatican for aprivate meetingwithPope Francis— and while Charlene’s black ensemble followed tradition, it was a break from her outfit choices during past visits.
On Wednesday, the royal couple met with the leader of the Catholic church in the Apostolic Library. During their 25-minute visit, they exchanged gifts: Pope Francis presented the pair with a bronze depiction of a child helping another child get up from the ground with the words “love” and “help” etched on the figures' sides.
Prince Albert, 64, gifted the Pope with an artistic sketch of the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, located in the Royal Palace of Monaco.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty
However, in the past, Princess Charlene has opted to wear white clothing for her meetings with the Pope. In fact, she’s one of just seven women given “the privilege of the white.” Called “le privil ge du blanc” in French or “il privilegio del biacno” in Italian, the special tradition is extended solely to designated Catholic queens and princesses and is usually reserved for important events at the Vatican — such as private audiences, canonizations, beatifications and special masses.
Princess Charlene.TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty
The small group of women who have the privilege of the white includes Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Paola of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Marina of Naples and Princess Charlene.
Princess Charlene wore white to two previous meetings at the Vatican: during an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 and with Pope Francis previously in 2016.
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Prince Albert, Pope Francis and Princess Charlene in 2016.Vatican Pool/Getty
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene also attended the Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in 2013, when Charlene went with a black ensemble and matching headpiece.
source: people.com
