Prince Albert & Princess Charlene of Monaco Meet Pope Francis

All eyes were on Princess Charlene on Monday as she made her fourth visit to the small country of the Vatican City. Wearing all-white – she is one of only seven people worldwide who are allowed to wear the colour to meet His Holiness – Charlene looked her usual elegant self in a collarless white coat and a cream dress paired with a white lace head covering.

Called le privilége du blanc in French or il privilegio del biacno in Italian, this tradition is solely for designated Catholic queens and princesses and is usually reserved for important events at the Vatican like private audiences, canonizations, beatifications and special masses.

Protocol states that other women who meet with the pope are asked to wear black clothes and a matching mantilla (the lace head covering). Although these protocols are not enforced, it is the choice of the person themselves whether or not to adhere, and more often than not on official state visits we find that Royals, Heads of State and their partners prefer to follow this rule.

This recent visit that brought together two of the world's smallest countries, Monaco and the Vatican City, was Charlene's first state visit since the birth of the Royal twins in December 2014.