Only specific Catholic queens and princesses from certain European monarchies have the historic right, known as «le privilège du blanc» (the privilege of white), to wear white when meeting the Pope, including royalty from Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Monaco, symbolizing their Catholic faith and historical ties to the Vatican. Other women, even Catholic ones, must wear black, though these royal ladies aren't obligated to use the privilege and sometimes choose black instead, as seen with Princess Charlene and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
For the Papal Audienence casual but modest dress is accepted, again ladies should still have shoulders covered particularly if the meeting is held indoors. As the Audience in Summer is usually held outside and Rome gets extremely hot, bring hats, sunscreen, water and cover up as much as possible to avoid burning.
However there are differences: the meeting will not take place in the Pope's official receiving rooms and nor will the Queen wear black, according to the Vatican tradition. Traditionally, British royal women do not wear black unless the court is officially in mourning.
It's traditional for a Queen to wear black and a veil for an audience with the Pope at the Vatican as a sign of respect, modesty and humility.
It's true that Queen Letizia wore white at the Vatican on June 30, 2014, during a visit with Pope Francis—but that won't be the case this time. The reason is simple: the Privilege of White (Privilège du blanc) does not apply to funerals.
Queen Camilla was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia following a chest infection in late 2024, which caused fatigue and led to her missing some public engagements, though she continued with indoor duties and worked towards recovery, managing lingering post-viral tiredness with rest. Her illness was initially described as a "nasty bug," but she later confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis herself, requiring a modified schedule for a period.
No, King Charles and Queen Camilla generally sleep in separate bedrooms, a common practice among the British upper class and royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as it helps maintain their relationship and allows for personal space, with both having their own rooms at residences like Clarence House and private country homes.
Pope Francis says homosexuality is a sin but not a crime. VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as "unjust," saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.
It was mainly because of her claim to the throne, because some Catholics viewed Elizabeth as illegitimate, being the product of Henry's second marriage. When Mary arrived in England seeking refuge in 1568, none of Elizabeth's options had a particularly favourable outcome.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church does not get paid what many consider a traditional salary. Instead, the Vatican provides for the pontiff's needs, from housing, food, transportation and other expenses in the form of stipends and allowances.
Refusal to wear the tiara
Blessed John Paul I was the first pope to refuse its use and St. John Paul II followed in line. He explained his reasoning during the homily of his inauguration Mass: In past centuries, when the Successor of Peter took possession of his See, the triregnum or tiara was placed on his head.
White is the colour of light, purity, glory and joy. It is used for all the celebration linked to Christ, except that of the Passion (for Christmas and Easter in particular), for the feast-days of the Virgin Mary, of the angels and of the non-martyred saints and lastly, for the birth of St John the Baptist.
So let's start at the top — the Pope. A person would greet Pope John Paul II as “Your Holiness,” “Most Holy Father,” or “Holy Father.” A letter written to him would be addressed, “His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,” with the salutation, “Your Holiness” or “Most Holy Father.” Next in the hierarchy comes the Cardinal.
Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit.
You have to be dressed appropriately to gain entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens. Visitors are not permitted to wear sleeveless, low-cut garments, shorts that end above the knee, miniskirts, and hats.
Pius IX's liberal policies initially made him very popular throughout Italy. He appointed an able and enlightened minister, Pellegrino Rossi, to administer the Papal States. He also showed himself hostile to Austrian influences, delighting Italian patriots, who hailed him as the coming redeemer of Italy.
Ancient Rome's social elite, mostly influenced by Greek models, also kept a pretty relaxed attitude towards same-sex encounters, which were almost the norm among the upper class, emperors included. The stars went to Nero, who allegedly married two of his freedmen, and Trajan, famous for his fondness for boys.
Throughout the Catholic Church, East as well as West, a priest may not marry after ordination. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, a married priest is one who married before being ordained. The Roman Catholic Church considers the law of clerical celibacy to be not a doctrine, but a discipline.
Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in separate beds primarily due to the constraints of the Royal Train (which has only single beds) and as part of a long-standing aristocratic tradition of separate sleeping arrangements for better rest or privacy, though they likely share a bed at home, with their dog sometimes joining them for extra comfort, aligning with modern trends for "sleep divorce".
In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants (via The Daily Mail) royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Harry and William called Queen Camilla "Lady Macbeth," "Cruella de Vil" and the "Witch of the West" as teenagers.
She would rise at 7:30am, ensuring she got a respectable eight and a half hours of sleep each night. Exercise is known to aid a good sleep routine, and like the late monarch, Kate is renowned for her love of outdoor exercise.
Queen Camilla was once a heavy smoker - but stopped the habit years ago.
She had a sinus lift and bone grafting procedure earlier in the spring. The condition led to problems with equalising pressure and prevented her from flying above 20,000 feet. She missed a scheduled appearance at the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, as she was unable to travel back to Monaco.
In her final months, Queen Elizabeth II made a deeply personal decision to stop medical treatment and face her illness with quiet acceptance. Privately, she had been battling myeloma, a form of bone cancer that affects the bone marrow.