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Dr Taylor Marshall™️@TaylorRMarshall · May 18, 2025

Why did Queen Letizia of Spain wear all white in the presence of Pope Leo XIV, while all the other women wore the…

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Summary

Queen Letizia of Spain wore white instead of the traditional black at a papal audience because she holds Le Privilège du Blanc, a papal privilege granted to certain Catholic queens and princesses in good standing with the Church. This ancient tradition, which also applies to the queens of Belgium and Luxembourg and princesses of Monaco and Naples, is a recognition of Catholic monarchs' special role in Christendom and their commitment to the faith.

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  1. #1

    Why did Queen Letizia of Spain wear all white in the presence of Pope Leo XIV, while all the other women wore the traditional black? Many media outlets praised the Queen's 'disruptive' all-white style. They are, unfortunately, ignorant of the tradition of Le privilège du blanc. This papally approved privilege allows certain Catholic queens and princesses to wear white, not black, in the presence of the Pope. Let’s look at the history of Le privilège du blanc: 🧵

  2. #2

    In Catholic symbolism (and human symbolism), black garments signify humility and the desire to remain unnoticed. During a papal audience, traditional protocol dictates that men dress simply, while women should wear long, black dresses that cover the knee, have high collars (no cleavage is allowed in the presence of the pope), and feature long sleeves. Melania and Ivanka Trump provide an example of how it’s supposed to look:

  3. #3

    But there is an exception for a few Catholic princesses and queens: Le privilège du blanc, or “the privilege of the white,” in the presence of the Pope is granted to royal women as long as they remain in good standing with the Catholic Church. Heresy or a non-sacramental marriage would lead the Pope to rescind the privilege. For example, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who is the Catholic wife of the Protestant King Willem-Alexander, is not given the privilege. Queen Elena of Italy wearing white in the presence of Pope Pius XII:

  4. #4

    The following royal ladies have the privilège du blanc: - Queen of Belgium - Queen of Spain - Grand Duchess of Luxembourg - Princess of Naples - Princess of Monaco Photo of Princess Charlene of Monaco with Pope Francis

  5. #5

    Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia greet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, following the Holy Mass for the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV. They are appropriately attired and reverently greet the Holy Father:

  6. #6

    Why does this matter? It’s a reminder that the Catholic Church holds high standards for the attire of the laity and recognizes Catholic monarchs as integral to Christendom. Le Privilège du Blanc isn’t just about white dresses; it’s about history, influence, and remains an essential reminder of the history (and future) of Christendom. If you're interested in the restoration of Christendom, see my new book: Christian Patriot christianpatriotbook.com