Privilège du blanc

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Queen Elena of Italy and Crown Princess Marie-José wearing white garments in the presence of Pope Pius XII at the Quirinal Palace on 27 December 1939.

Le privilège du blanc (pronounced [lə pʁivilɛʒ dy blɑ̃] ("the privilege of white") is a term used for a Catholic custom whereby certain designated royal women are permitted to wear a white dress and veil during audiences with the Pope,[1] an exception to the tradition of women ordinarily wearing black on such occasions. Those who have been permitted to wear white garments include the Queens of Belgium, Italy and Spain, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Princess of Monaco and the Princesses of the House of Savoy.

History[]

In the Roman Catholic tradition, black garments signify both virtues of piety and humility.[citation needed] Protocol for papal audiences formerly required that women wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves, and a black mantilla.[2][3] Certain designated Catholic queens and princesses have traditionally been exempted from wearing black garments.

The privilege is not used by the wives of all Catholic monarchs or by the wives of non-Catholic monarchs. Even though they are Catholics, it is not accorded to the Queen of Lesotho or the Princess of Liechtenstein, nor to the wives of the French Co-Prince of Andorra and the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta.

The privilege is also not accorded to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who is the Catholic wife of the Protestant King Willem-Alexander;[4] nor to Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, or Sylvana, Countess of Saint Andrews, whom are the senior Catholic members of the Protestant British royal family.

List of eligibility[]

The following living royal women are currently eligible for the privilege:

  • Kingdom
  • Duchy
  • Principality
 Catholic Sovereign On the occasion of:
Spain Queen Sofía of Spain Accession of husband to the Spanish throne (1975)
Belgium Queen Paola of the Belgians Accession of husband to the Belgian throne (1993)
Luxembourg The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Accession of husband to the Luxembourgish throne (2000)
Monaco The Princess of Monaco[a] Dispensation from Pope Benedict XVI to the House of Grimaldi (2013)
Belgium The Queen of the Belgians Accession of husband to the Belgian throne (2013)
Spain The Queen of Spain Accession of husband to the Spanish throne (2014)
Kingdom of Italy The Duchess of Savoy Dispensation from Pope Pius XI to the House of Savoy (1929)

In recent years[]

The Princess of Monaco meeting Pope Francis on an official state visit at the Vatican.

Marina, Princess of Naples, wife of the Head of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, used the privilege on 18 May 2003 during a Catholic mass marking the birth anniversary of Pope John Paul II.[5]

For the first time in Monégasque history on 12 January 2013, Charlene, Princess of Monaco, used the privilege in an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy See Press Office later issued a press release declaring the following:

"…in accordance with prescribed ceremonial of the Vatican for Catholic Sovereigns, the Princess (of Monaco) was allowed to dress in white."[6]

Charlene used the privilege again on 18 January 2016 when visiting Pope Francis as part of an official state visit to the Vatican with her husband, Albert II, Prince of Monaco.

List of occasions used[]

Among the occasions when the privilège du blanc has been exercised are the following:

Date Queen / Princess Pontiff Occasion
2018 October 14 Queen Sofía of Spain Francis Canonization of Pope Paul VI[7]
2016 September 4 Queen Sofía of Spain Francis Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta[8]
2016 March 21 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Francis Private audience[9][10]
2016 January 18 Princess Charlene 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 Sofía of Spain
  • Queen Paola of Belgium
  • Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
 Francis Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II
2013 March 19
  • Queen Paola of Belgium
  • Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
 Francis Inaugural mass of Pope Francis[11]
2013 January 12 Princess Charlene of Monaco Benedict XVI Private audience[12]
2011 May 1
  • Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
  • Queen Paola of Belgium
 Benedict XVI Beatification of Pope John Paul II[13]
2009 October 10 Queen Paola of Belgium Benedict XVI Private audience[14][15][16]
2006 May 8 Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg Benedict XVI Private audience[15][16]
2005 April 24
  • Queen Sofía of Spain
  • Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
 Benedict XVI Inaugural mass of Pope Benedict XVI[15][16]
2004 October 3 Queen Fabiola of Belgium John Paul II Beatification of Charles I of Austria[17]
2003 May 18 Princess of Naples, Marina of Savoy John Paul II Birthday of Pope John Paul II[5][18]
2003 March 23
  • Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
  • Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg
 John Paul II Private audience[19]
1998 May 15 Queen Paola of Belgium John Paul II Private audience[15]
1981 April 30 Queen Sofía of Spain John Paul II Private audience[16]
1978 October 22
  • Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Queen Sofía of Spain
 John Paul II Inaugural mass of Pope John Paul II[16]
1978 September 3
  • Queen Fabiola of Belgium
  • Queen Sofía of Spain
  • Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg
 John Paul I Inaugural mass of Pope John Paul I[16]
1977 February 10 Queen Sofía of Spain Paul VI Private audience[16]
1965 May 6 Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg Paul VI Private audience[20][21]
1961 June 9 Queen Fabiola of Belgium John XXIII Private audience[16][22][23]
1939 December 28
  • Queen Elena of Italy
  • Princess Marie José of Piedmont
 Pius XII Papal visit to the Quirinal Palace[24]
1939 January 23 Princess Maria of Savoy Pius XI Private audience after wedding
1935 March 4 Duchess Emanuella de Dampierre of Anjou and Segovia Pius XI Private audience after wedding
1930 January 8 Princess Marie José of Piedmont Pius XI Private audience after wedding
1929 December 28 Princess Maria Adelaide of Savoy Pius XI Private audience[25]
1929 December 7
  • Princess Giovanna of Savoy
  • Princess Maria of Savoy
 Pius XI Private audience[26]
1929 December 5
  • Queen Elena of Italy
  • Princess Helene, Duchess of Aosta-Savoy
  • Queen of Belgium, Elizabeth of Bavaria
  • Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies[27]
 Pius XI Private audience after signing of the Lateran Treaty[16][28]
1923 November 19 Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain Pius XI Private audience[29][30]

Non-compliance[]

  • Cherie Blair (2006) — the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was criticised for wearing white garments when visiting Pope Benedict XVI on 28 April 2006.[31] Blair was speaking at a Vatican conference on children and youth. The Pontiff, hearing she was at the Vatican, requested she meet with him, only giving her a few minutes' notice and forcing her to rush in her day clothes to accommodate the Pope's request.[32] Blair is a Roman Catholic and has previously worn black garments to meet with the Pontiff.
  • Mehriban Aliyeva (2020) — the First Lady of Azerbaijan chose to wear white veil and garments during a private audience with Pope Francis on 22 February 2020, despite not being a Roman Catholic nor of Royal personage. She previously wore black garments for the same Pontiff on 6 March 2015. [33]

References[]

  1. ^ James-Charles Noonan, Jr., The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church (New York: Viking, 1996), 411.
  2. ^ George Seldes, The Vatican: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1934), 125.
  3. ^ Fabio Cassani Pironti, Ordini in ordine: manuale d'uso decorazioni per il corpo diplomatico accreditato presso la Santa Sede, il Sovrano militare Ordine di Malta ed i rispettivi dignitari (Roma: Laurus Robuffo, 2004), 42 and 87.
  4. ^ Queen Maxima of Netherlands before the Most Supreme Pontiff Francis — https://incaelo.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/3825095939.jpg?w=964
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Marina in San Pietro con tailleur bianco". Corriere della Sera. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  6. ^ "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Holds an Audience with TSHs Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. (VIDEO)". The Royal Correspondent. 12 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Pope Francis Receives Queen Sofía of Spain"
  8. ^ "Pope Francis Receives Queen Sofía of Spain"
  9. ^ "Pope Francis receives Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg". news.va. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  10. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  11. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  12. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  13. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  14. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Mantilla With Me (3 September 2010). "Catholic Mantilla - Will You Mantilla With Me?: Politicos and Popes: Mantilla Action in the Vatican". mantillawithme.blogspot.ca.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Princeps Fidelissimus (23 July 2010). "Noble y Real". nobleyreal.blogspot.ca.
  17. ^ Photonews. "Pope Jean-Paul II and queen Fabiola of Belgium". Getty Images.
  18. ^ "The Glittering Casa Savoia".
  19. ^ Photographic image. Getty Images.
  20. ^ Sydney Luxarazzi. "Luxarazzi : Luxarazzi 101: The Grand Ducal Family at the Vatican". lux-arazzi.blogspot.ca.
  21. ^ "Catholic Northwest Progress May 14, 1965 Page 1". stparchive.com.
  22. ^ "Privilege for Fabiola", New York Times (June 10, 1961), 10.
  23. ^ Photo with Pope John XIII
  24. ^ "Speeches 1939 - PIUS XII". vatican.va. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  25. ^ "Italian Princes See Pope: Duke and Duchess of Genoa Among Seven of House of Savoy Present". The New York Times. 1929-12-29. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 2016-06-08. Pope Pius received additional Princes of the ruling House of Savoy in audience today. They included the Duke and Duchess of Genoa, the Prince of Udine, the Duke of Pistoia, the Duke of Bergamo, Princess Maria Adelaide and the Duke of Ancona.
  26. ^ "Prince and Sisters Pay Visit to Pope", New York Times (December 8, 1929), 5.
  27. ^ British Pathe 1929 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZuqIC7gs4
  28. ^ "Italy's Sovereigns Make First Visit to Pope", New York Times (December 6, 1929), 1.
  29. ^ "Alfonso Received in Papal Splendor", New York Times (November 20, 1923), 7.
  30. ^ "DINASTÍAS - Los Foros de la Realeza • Ver Tema - LOS PRIMOS HERMANOS DEL REY". forogratis.es. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  31. ^ "White outfit, wrong occasion, Cherie". Telegraph Online.
  32. ^ Association, Press (28 April 2006). "Cherie Blair gets surprise audience with Pope". Retrieved 1 October 2016 – via The Guardian.
  33. ^ "Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva meet with Pope Francis in Vatican (PHOTO)". 22 February 2020.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Charlene of Monaco did not obtain the privilege in 2011 upon her marriage to a Catholic monarch, rather was gifted for her upcoming birthday by Pope Benedict XVI on 2013 for the matrimonial commitment of raising their children in the Roman Catholic faith.

External links[]

Media related to Privilège du blanc at Wikimedia Commons


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