Dignitaries, heads of state and European Royals were in attendance yesterday for the canonisations in which Popes John Paul II and John XXIII were declared saints. It was not surprising to see several Queens who have been granted the Privilège du Blanc (the special permission granted to Catholic queens, duchesses and princesses to wear white during an audience with the Pope) at this special event. Queen Sofia stood out in an intricately designed traditional lace mantilla and high peineta comb. With her floor length white lace gown, she looked very regal.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesQueen Paola topped her white coat with a long white lace veil (probably of Brussels lace).
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa topped her modern white suit with a short white lace veil.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesPrincess Marie Aglaë of Liechtenstein, who has not been granted the Privilège du Blanc, wore a black coat and lace veil.
Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein and her daughter, Princess Maria Annunciata (back left, with iphone), were also in attendance. They sat with Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, who wore a beautiful black lace veil.
It is not often that we see these women in lace veils (outside their wedding day) and it looks like a lovely celebration was enjoyed at this mass.
Photos from Getty as indicated and Tageblatt
Royal Hats 
I think they all look wonderful in the mantillas. Queen Sofia’s comb and mantilla is especially lovely. Such a pity we can’t find a picture of The Duchess of Gloucester, I so want to see if she repeted her pillbox and veil combo from last year’s inaugural mass for Pope Francis.
James- I’m still hunting for a photo of the Duchess of Gloucester. If I dig one up, I’ll certainly post it.
I know where Princess Charlene was! She was in my town! My son takes swimming lessons at the local swim school on Saturdays, and there was a swim safety event on Sunday we did not attend – but Princess Charlene was there! She was part of a group of swimmers who promote swim safety and she gave some swimming lessons. Darn we missed her, I can’t believe she was in my town in California – who would have thought it! Not Rome! See : http://www.ocregister.com/articles/princess-611608-swim-swimming.html
(sorry I don’t know how to post the link it seems)
FYI on the Privilege du Blanc (from Wikipedia):
As of 2013, the following Catholic monarchs eligible for the privilege are:
Queen Sofia of Spain
Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Queen Paola of Belgium
Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg – Hereditary GD Stephanie does NOT have it
Princess Marina of Naples, Head of the House of Savoy
It is notable that they do not use it for every meeting with the Pope, but usually for the more important occasions they attend at the Vatican.
Princess Marina of Naples, wife of the Head of the House of Savoy, used the privilege in 2003 during the Mass for the birthday of Pope John Paul II.[4]
By a singular occasion on 12 January 2013, Princess Charlene of Monaco was permitted to wear white in papal audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican’s press office later issued a formal statement citing that “in accordance with prescribed ceremonial of the Vatican for Catholic sovereigns, the princess was allowed to dress in white.”[5][6] By contrast, Princess Charlene did not wear white for the inaugural mass of Pope Francis.
They all look so wonderfully ROYAL! What a fab assortment of images HatQueen has harvested for our perusal. Interesting that there was no Princess Charlene, would have loved to see what she’d have turned up in this time.
This reminds MrFitzroy how thrilling it would have been for Queen Elizabeth to have had a more formal audience with the current Pope, rather than her recent ‘informal visit’. She wears black so rarely, and with a veil to boot!
two more royals: princess Margaretha and princess Anunciata http://www.tageblatt.lu/diashow/3463/4900008127109481-f6a55c817fd00f5126efbfdfa7a7becd.jpg
queen Paola’s lace http://www.tageblatt.lu/diashow/3463/4900008127128191-15da49b9843917a6d0ae20349a694631.jpg
pics from http://www.tageblatt.lu/nachrichten/story/Papst-hat-zwei-Vorgaenger-heiliggesprochen-27949333
I can’t find the duchess of Gloucester 😦 she also was at this event
I’m so glad you featured them here, they look stunning in their veils. I am bit disappointed only with the one worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. For once, her stepdaughter did way better 🙂
Sofia looks fantastic!