The Belgian monarchs, King Philip and Queen Matilda, visited the Vatican for a private audience with Pope Leo, five days after King Charles of the United Kingdom and his wife, Queen Camilla, met with the pontiff.
According to local media, the royal couple were received in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace before meeting with the Pope to discuss humanitarian issues, social challenges and the current importance of faith in public life.
The royal family shared several photographs of the king and queen’s meeting with the Pope.
Royal fans couldn’t help but notice that Queen Mathilde wore a suit and headscarf during the meeting, just days after Queen Camilla’s black dress, especially the headscarf, sparked reactions on social media.
The Belgian queen wore a white dress because only a handful of royal women have special permission to wear white in the presence of the Pope, in a tradition known as “il privilege del bianco” or “the white privilege.”
The honor is extended exclusively to designated Catholic queens and princesses.
a report in people.com said last week that the group currently includes Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Letizia of Spain, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg, Princess Marina of Naples, former Queen Sofia of Spain and former Queen Paola of Belgium.
