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Pope Francis with Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Vatican on June 30, 2014.
Spain's Queen Letizia.
The privilege of the white is a special privilege granted to Catholic queens, or the wives of the Catholic kings, which, during the audience with the Pope, can wear a white dress instead of the usual black dress prescribed by ceremonial.
White is currently the privilege granted only to the queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Charlene of Monaco, former Queen Sofia of Spain, former Queen Paola of Belgium and the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
Until 1946 the privilege was also granted to the Italian queen and princesses of the House of Savoy. Although Catholics, the privilege is not granted to the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Lesotho, and, until 2013, was not granted to the Principality of Monaco. The wives of the presidents do not enjoy the privilege of white.
Pope Francis with Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia during a private audience at the Vatican on June 30, 2014.
