Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Vatican City’s St Peter’s Square to attend Pope Leo XIV’s historic inauguration mass on Sunday.
Charlene, Letizia, and Mathilde looked equally stunning in all-white ensembles at the event.
The three royals are allowed to wear white in front of the Pope because they are Catholic Queens and Princesses.
They are each one of only seven women in the world who have ‘the privilege of the white’ – or the ability to wear white when meeting with the Pope.
Called le privilége du blanc in French or il privilegio del biacno in Italian, the special tradition is extended solely to designated Catholic queens and princesses and is reserved for important events at the Vatican, such as private audiences, canonisations, beatifications, and special masses.
Normal protocol for papal audiences requires that ladies wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves and a black mantilla.
Meanwhile, Prince Edward is representing Britain at today’s Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
Elsewhere today, 67-year-old Prince Albert looked smart in a navy suit and a pair of black sunglasses.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco looked smart as they arrived for the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter’s Square on Sunday
The Spanish Queen matched her white ensemble with a pair of simple yet classic nude kitten heels
Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Philippe of Belgium arrived arm-in-arm ahead of the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV
It comes after Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco made their first Holy Communion, the royal palace announced.
The heir to the Monegasque throne – also known as the Marquis of Baux – and his twin sister, both 10, marked the religious ceremony with a series of sweet family portraits shared to the royal household’s official Instagram page.
The First Holy Communion, also known as the First Eucharist, is one of the most important milestones in the Catholic faith.
It is a key step in in a child’s faith journey, symbolising their deepening relationship with Jesus and the Church, and it involves receiving the consecrated bread and wine, believed to be the body and blood of Christ.
The young royals beamed as they were joined by their parents Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene at the important ceremony.
A translated statement shared to the palace’s Instagram page read: ‘On this day of First Communion, we extend our most sincere congratulations to Crown Prince James and Princess Gabriella who received this sacrament with faith and compulsion’.
It further read that the palace extended its ‘heartfelt congratulations’ to the prince and princess who ‘received this sacrament with faith and reverence’.
The prince and princess looked adorable in white floor-length robes and matching gold necklaces.
Spain’s Queen Letizia and King Felipe smiled as they arrived at the historic inauguration mass today
Charlene put on an elegant display in a sophisticated white dress and floral-patterned net veil on Sunday
Prince Jacques, appropriately called Hereditary Prince Jacques, looked wholesome as ever in a pair of black leather lace-up loafers and a well-coiffed haircut.
His sister – who is younger than the future king by two minutes – donned a pair of fitting white leather shoes, while her fringe was neatly parted and styled with a gold floral headband.
The siblings smiled sweetly as they posed on the grounds of the Church.
Their parents Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were on hand to celebrate the momentous occasion, after which they posed for celebratory photographs.
The prince, 67, and princess, 47, were pictured standing behind their children and appeared to be in happy spirits.
In one image, the prince, 67, firmly embraced his son’s left shoulder, perhaps signalling a physical show of support for his special day.
For the ceremony, Albert – who has reigned over Monaco since 2005 – donned a dark blue suit, a crisp white shirt and a grey tie.
Meanwhile Charlene stunned in a stylish dark grey ensemble with gold circular buttons.
The former Olympian swimmer opted for a pared back look, as her make-up was minimal and her blonde tresses appeared to be tied backwards, allowing only a few strands loose for a parted fringe.
The quartet looked spectacular and appeared to be in the happiest of spirits as they smiled cheerfully for the camera.
The young royals are perhaps now accustomed to taking photographs after celebrating their 10th birthdays with a set of endearing snaps.
Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco marked their milestone birthdays with a set of previously unseen family photos.
The prince and princess were born two minutes apart at Princess Grace Hospital Monaco, which is named after their late grandmother, on December 10 2014.
Although the children, who are the first set of twins in Monaco’s royal household, occasionally appear with their parents for public occasions, they are growing up largely outside of the spotlight.
To mark their birthday, the Royal Family’s official Instagram account shared 12 new images of Jacques and Gabriella with their followers.
The majority of the images were taken by Eric Mathon – the royals’ official photographer who took their Christmas card image too.
The first undated image shows Princess Gabriella in a gymnastics uniform and matching bow while wearing a medal around her neck and holding a pair of binoculars.
As she beams for the camera, Gabriella’s brother, who is dressed in a white polo and jeans, puts an arm around his sibling as they stand inside a gymnasium’s private seating area.
The photo montage also includes a candid image of the twins laughing in a garden while dressed formally for an unspecified occasion.
Princess Gabriella – who wore an ivory dress and matching coat – is pictured leaning on her brother, who is wearing a navy suit and trying to control his giggles.
Another image from the same occasion shows the twins making a love heart with their hands as they pose in front of a water fountain.
