The big papal visit to France wrapped up on Monday in Metz, with the wives of two European sovereigns, the Princess of Monaco and the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, exercising the privilège du blanc.
On the final day of his apostolic visit to France, Pope Leo XIV traveled to Metz, a city located near the border of France, Germany, and Luxembourg. There, he said mass at the Cathedral of St. Etienne and spoke at the Robert Schuman Conference Centre during a meeting titled “At the Roots of Europe: For Peace and Unity.”
During the Pope’s speech, dignitaries crowded the auditorium. Here, you’ll spot Grand Duke Guillaume V of Luxembourg, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Prince Albert II of Monaco sitting beside French First Lady Brigitte Macron in the audience.
President and Madame Macron had welcomed the Grimaldis enthusiastically on their arrival in Metz. Here, Princess Charlene hugs Brigitte Macron after stepping out of the car.
For the occasion, Princess Charlene diplomatically chose to wear French fashion: an embroidered jacket and coordinating trousers from Christian Dior.
She also carried a small Christian Dior handbag: the Lady D-Joy bag in the shade latte. The bag is part of the brand’s famed Lady Dior line, which was inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales.
Charlene kept her jewelry simple for the occasion, wearing a small pair of pearl stud earrings and her diamond engagement ring. The embellished collar of the jacket stood in for a necklace.
Charlene is one of the European royal consorts who can exercise the privilège du blanc: the right to wear white in the presence of the Pope. Technically, she could wear whatever color she liked during this appearance, because the privilège du blanc is really only applicable where dress codes at the Vatican are concerned. But most of the royal ladies who have the special privilege (the Queen of the Belgians, the Queen of Spain, the Princess of Monaco, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and the ladies of the House of Savoy) sometimes choose to follow the guidelines outside of Vatican City as well.
One other lady who was able to exercise the privilege, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, joined her husband for the papal mass at the Cathedral of St. Etienne in Metz on Monday. The couple were accompanied by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden.
Like Charlene, Stéphanie wore white for the mass, during which she shook the Pope’s hand and dropped into a quick curtsey. With her white dress, she wore a pair of diamond hoop earrings and diamond rings on both hands.
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