Vatican City State: Pope Francis accession/Inauguration & Current Events:March 2013-

[Marengo]

It seems that the prince of Orange was escorted to his seat by the Fürst of Windisch-Graetz (the one who is married to Archduchess Sophie of Austria):

Picture details

 

[NGalitzine]

The dress code for todays event seemed all over the map or rather no dress code at all. Men in uniforms, white tie, morning coats and business suits. Women in long white, short white, black dresses and day dresses.

 

[Ish]

I would think that Princess Charlene's choice in dress for for this would bring into question whether or not she really has the privilege du blanc. Monaco is not a country that traditionally has it, as the Prince of Monaco is not a Catholic Monarch (Rex Catholicissimus), meaning that female monarchs and consorts of Monaco don't typically hold that privilege. It could just be that when she wore white in January it was a blunder that they covered up - she could have been wearing white because she was choosing not to adhere to traditional, formal dress when meeting the pope, much like Mary Robinson wore green or Cherie Blair wore white - and this time round she's learned from her blunder and played it safe.

 

[NGalitzine]

I would have thought the statement released by The Vatican Press Office in January would have put any doubts to rest. If The Vatican says she has the right to wear white that should be sufficient for anyone. Having the privilege du blanc does not however mean that you are required to wear white everytime you visit The Vatican.

 

[MARG]

Charlene of Monaco is in black,now I'm confused

Me too. Hopelessly confused . . . if she has the privilege du blanc surely she should be wearing white?

 

[Pranter]

She doesn't have to wear white, she just has the right to wear white if she wants to.


LaRae

 

[MARG]

Fair enough. Looking at the dress code, both male and female, has been enough to convince me that within the bounds of good manners, anything goes. Men we would expect in uniform, not so, white tie, also not. Women in long dresses, not so and women in white also not so.

So, having totally failed the intricacies of the Vatican Dress Code, I guess we would be better advised to turn ourselves from fashion which is fun, to the more solemn and auspicious occasion itself which has provided more than enough "differences" and tradition to remark upon.

 

[Pranter]

There is a dress code if one is going to the Vatican for Mass but it has to do with modest clothing not the formality/color etc.


LaRae

 

[Frelinghighness]

The Pope has such a kind smile, I wish him well.

I too wondered who the blonde next to margarita of Lichtenstien and Felix of Lux was.
Also, I just LOVE the guards' outfits!

 

[Ish]

There is a dress code if one is going to the Vatican for Mass but it has to do with modest clothing not the formality/color etc.

LaRae

As per Wikipedia: "Vatican protocol for papal audiences formerly required formal dresses; long-sleeved, formal black garments and black mantilla for women, and white ties and tails for men." The exception, of course, being those with the privilege du blanc.

There is a dress code for such an event, it simply hasn't been enforced since the 80s and is now viewed as optional - resulting in a hodgepodge of attair, such as we saw here.

 

[NGalitzine]

I gather there were no invitations sent, so no dress code specified on an invitation. Those who wished to attend or be represented merely informed The Vatican of their intention.

 

[Reinosa]

i have seen this picture of maxima talking to the argentinian president. it looks like the two women are happy to see each other.

i am most impressed. i can hardly imagine maxima agreeing with any of cristina fernandez's policies on how to govern argentina. maybe just protocolar etiquette?

http://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Mar2013/PPE13031952.jpg

Why shouldn't she? Being a Queen, Maxima will have to interact with different Dutch Prime Ministers from different political parties. It'll be her duty as the King's wife to accompany and support him in this task. It's not only etiquette. Why shouldn't she do the same with a President of a foreign country (a woman) that's been democratically elected? And who is the Head of State of the country where she was born? We don't know how many things these two women have in common but I know that they know what they have to do in this cases and to do it properly. Besides that, there's now a Pope born in Argentina, they both were very moved and that was quite a thing to have in common.

 

[lucien]

It seems that the prince of Orange was escorted to his seat by the Fürst of Windisch-Graetz (the one who is married to Archduchess Sophie of Austria):

Picture details

The Fürst Mariano Hugo Winditsch-Graetz is one of the Princes in Attendance during Grand Ceremonies at The Vatican.He is married to a Archduchess Habsburg and lives in Caserta.His eldest son,Alexis,died a few years ago in an accident and is interred at the Teutonic cemetary near St.Peter Square.

Some more Princes & Princesses & a King & Queen in attendance yesterday:

PPE Agency

http://www.anpfoto.nl/search.pp?eventid=1465762
Courtesy ROBIN UTRECHT

I gather there were no invitations sent, so no dress code specified on an invitation. Those who wished to attend or be represented merely informed The Vatican of their intention.

Indeed,no invitations were send,just all the Embassies received notice of the Papal Inauguration and then it was/is all up to the respective countries if and whom they send.To The Vatican ALL are welcome,regardless.

 

[Spheno]

I think some kind of invitations/confirmation was. Vatican needed to know how many places to prepare, how to arrange guests, etc.
So Vatican could specify dress code.

 

[Osipi]

I would imagine that there was a certain level of communication as to who was coming and whatnot and those who attended on behalf of their nation or government would be in the know enough to check out what is protocol as far as dress for this kind of thing.

I also have a gut feeling that the last person that would notice any kind of a faux pas would be Pope Francis. I would guess that if it was left up to him, the Inaugural Mass would have been on the simplest level as possible. He just seems like that kind of a guy.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I gather there were no invitations sent, so no dress code specified on an invitation. Those who wished to attend or be represented merely informed The Vatican of their intention.

That is correct

"The Vatican says it did not issue invitations for the inauguration on Tuesday of Pope Francis - Latin America's first pontiff - who was elected by a secret conclave last Wednesday. But representatives of world governments are welcome to attend."

"The Holy See informs everyone that this event is taking place. There are no invitations. There are no privileges and no one is refused. While one country may have problems with someone else, we invite no one. This must be made clear,"

Mugabe slips into Italy for papal inauguration | Reuters

 

[Pranter]

As per Wikipedia: "Vatican protocol for papal audiences..."

I was not talking about papal audiences.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

You can see the Duke on picture 49 of the Zimbio gallery.

I wonder whether Princess Charlene wore black because of the solemnity of the occassion / because it was a Mass and chooses White for an official visit or meeting with the Pope?

She could have worn black as it is Lent. As simple as that.

 

[blauerengel]

I would imagine that there was a certain level of communication as to who was coming and whatnot and those who attended on behalf of their nation or government would be in the know enough to check out what is protocol as far as dress for this kind of thing.

I also have a gut feeling that the last person that would notice any kind of a faux pas would be Pope Francis. I would guess that if it was left up to him, the Inaugural Mass would have been on the simplest level as possible. He just seems like that kind of a guy.

That´s true,I agree with you and that is also one of the reasons why I like him that much-he is a very modest,down-to-the earth person without pomp and ostentation.

The last pope wore the hermelin papal accessoires which look like stuff that the royals of the middle ages wore-too expensive and also fur is not necessary because we have pretty fake fur nowadays and it was not cold.
He didn´t wear it all the times,but still it was not a good gesture IMO,fur should only be worn in extremely cold regions like Russia were it is needed,not for reasons of vanity and fashion.

Pope Francis is in that way following Francis from Assisi´s teachings who lived like a pauper and didn´t hord any valuables because he wanted to live like Jesus Christ who was a poor man, a working man who was doing a lot for people in need,sick and poor

 

[maria-olivia]

Perfect Royals Monarchs and Crown-princes , dress code correct for "blanc" and black.
I noticed that my King is enable now to kneel down and feel sorry

 

[EmpressRouge]

Here's my random thought about Charlene and the Privilège du blanc:
The Vatican has relaxed dress codes for papal audiences in the last decade or so, and thus extended privilege to the Princess of Monaco and Charlene was perfectly within protocol to wear white in January. However, Tuesday was an papal inauguration, and, much like a coronation, they stuck to the old rules for such an important and traditional event. Maybe Charlene was technically allowed to wear, but decided keep in line with tradition for the big event.

 

[vkrish]

Did the King and Queen of Spain stay behind only due to the King's health issues? I would have loved to see The Queen exercise her Privilege du Blanc..

 

[NGalitzine]

Was "Gorgeous Georg" there yesterday. I assume as head of the Papal Household he probably was but if he was wearing an Archbishops mitre he wasn't as recognizable as he might have been.

 

[lucien]

Was "Gorgeous Georg" there yesterday. I assume as head of the Papal Household he probably was but if he was wearing an Archbishops mitre he wasn't as recognizable as he might have been.

Yes he was!!Bello Giorgio is omnipotent!He wasn't as visible during the Inauguration Mass,but was again immediatly after in the Basilica as all the guests were officially introduced to Pope Francis

 

[Marika86]

Greetings inside the St. Peter's Basilica

Felipe & Letizia: Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3

Willem-Alexander & Maxima ** Albert & Charlene: Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** King Albert & Queen Paola

 

[Lady Jennifer]

She could have worn black as it is Lent. As simple as that.

Here's my random thought about Charlene and the Privilège du blanc:
The Vatican has relaxed dress codes for papal audiences in the last decade or so, and thus extended privilege to the Princess of Monaco and Charlene was perfectly within protocol to wear white in January. However, Tuesday was an papal inauguration, and, much like a coronation, they stuck to the old rules for such an important and traditional event. Maybe Charlene was technically allowed to wear, but decided keep in line with tradition for the big event.

Or maybe she woke up that day & decided to wear black. Maybe she wasn't in a "dress in all white" kind of mood. You plan an outfit & then the day comes, you look at what you've picked out & think, "No.....not today" - that could have happened.

 

[NGalitzine]

The privilege du blanc maybe an honour but is not especially chic and certainly did no favours for Paolas or MTs looks yesterday. As they age they begin to look like Miss Haversham, the bride who was left at the altar and never took off her wedding dress.

 

[jneugeba]

My gut is telling me she does not have the priviledge and she committed a major faux pas during her recent visit and the Vatican didn't want to make a big deal about it so they played along. I don't think we will ever see her in white again. That being said, the feeling I'm getting is that this Pope doesn't really care about all this stuff so it will be interesting to see what developments take place during his papacy.

 

[kbk]

Here's my random thought about Charlene and the Privilège du blanc:
The Vatican has relaxed dress codes for papal audiences in the last decade or so, and thus extended privilege to the Princess of Monaco and Charlene was perfectly within protocol to wear white in January. However, Tuesday was an papal inauguration, and, much like a coronation, they stuck to the old rules for such an important and traditional event. Maybe Charlene was technically allowed to wear, but decided keep in line with tradition for the big event.

IMO you're wrong about the privilege itself, but Charlene is certainly allowed to wear white, or red or any other colour that is appropriate in her and in general oppinion. It is because, as you said, the protocol was relaxed in recent times and there is no way to exersise by foreign court officials the protocol rules from someone who is at the highest state level, as Charlese as princess consort is. But the privilege du blanc is certainly not accorded to the Princess of Monaco, as the Prince himself has no special status of Catholicissimus, as far as we know... Being able to wear white does not mean having the privilege we are talking about here.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Did the King and Queen of Spain stay behind only due to the King's health issues? I would have loved to see The Queen exercise her Privilege du Blanc..

Yes as the King is still in recovery and Felipe/Letizia were sent in their Majesties place.