This weekend, Monaco hosted a rare papal visit to the principality, with Princess Charlene and Princess Gabriella wearing white and pearls to greet Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Monaco on Saturday for a visit that the Vatican News noted was “the Pope’s second international Apostolic Journey and the first ever undertaken by a Pope to the small city-state in modern times.” Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were on hand to greet him with Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the Prince’s Palace.
The official welcome ceremony took place in the palace courtyard. During his visit to the palace, the Pope remarked, “The gift of smallness and a living spiritual heritage invite you to put your prosperity at the service of law and justice, especially at a historical moment when the display of power and the logic of oppression are harming the world and jeopardizing peace.”
Members of the extended Grimaldi, Kelly, and Wittstock families were also on hand to witness the Pope’s arrival at the palace. From left to right in the front row are the Princess of Hanover, Princess Stéphanie, Charlotte Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Casiraghi, Louis Ducruet, Marie Ducruet, and Mélanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy; in the back row, from left to right, are Leticia de Massy de Brouwer, Sebastian Knecht, Donatella Knecht, John B. Kelly III, Alexandra Kelly, Chris LeVine, Susan von Medicus, and Gareth Wittstock.
Inside the palace, the Pope signed a guest book in the Salon des Glaces. The ornate table holding the book was placed in front of the famous Ralph Wolfe Cowan portrait of Albert’s mother, Princess Grace.
In the same room, the Prince and Princess posed with the Pope for official photographs. Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Princess Jacques also joined them during the portrait session.
During his time at the palace, the Pope also posed for a portrait in the Salle des Gardes with the members of the extended family, including Princess Caroline and Princess Stéphanie.
The Pope made several more stops in the principality during his nine-hour visit to Monaco. He led prayers inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, met with young people outside the chapel of Sainte-Dévote, and celebrated mass at the Stade Louis II.
During the visit, Princess Charlene exercised the privilège du blanc, the right to wear white instead of black in the presence of the Pope. Over the years, the privilege has been extended to the Queens of Belgium and Spain, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and the Princess of Monaco, as well as the women of the House of Savoy. We recently saw Queen Letizia wear white at the Vatican during an audience with the Pope.
Charlene is actually the first Princess of Monaco to exercise the privilege, having done so for the first time in 2013. After last weekend’s visit, palace staff highlighted the special custom on their official Facebook page, writing, “During the visit of the Holy Father to Monaco, HRH Princess Charlene appeared in white. A choice that follows a specific Vatican protocol and a rare distinction for the Principality, reflecting the special link between Monaco and the Holy See.”
For the occasion, Charlene wore a white dress with floral lace detailing from Elie Saab, paired with a matching veil. She accessorized with small pearl stud earrings and her diamond engagement ring.
Princess Gabriella wore a dress that matched her mother’s outfit, and a similar pair of small pearl stud earrings. Jacques also dressed to match his father in a blue suit.
On the coat she wore for the outdoor events of the visit, Gabriella wore one more accessory: a small pin featuring the flags of Monaco and the Vatican. Several other family members, including Prince Albert and Prince Jacques, wore the pins as well. In this photo, you’ll also spot Princess Stéphanie behind Gabriella, wearing a Monegasque decoration: the small badge of the Order of Grimaldi. Her elder sister, Princess Caroline, also pinned a decoration to her dress, wearing the miniature badge of the Order of Saint-Charles.
Before I go today, two scheduling notes. First, the free Wednesday issue of the Hidden Gems newsletter will drop in subscribers’ inboxes later this morning. I’ll be covering a whole range of topics, including that new line of Elizabeth II-themed souvenirs produced by the Royal Collection Trust. Second, in lieu of our usually-scheduled Thursday post tomorrow, I’ll be covering the jewels worn by Queen Camilla at the Royal Maundy service after it happens. Cross your fingers for a good brooch moment!
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