Europe’s new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have met with Pope Leo XIV for the first time since the change of throne.
Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg travelled to the Vatican for the special audience with the leader of the Catholic church and was joined by his wife, Grand Duchess Stephanie, and their two children Prince Charles, five, and Prince François, two.
The meeting was an historic moment for the small European nation, whose link with the Catholic church stretches back hundreds of years.
Pope Leo XIV met with Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Grand Duchess Stephanie and their sons Prince Charles and Prince François on January 23. (Getty)
The royal children were suitably behaved during the meeting and were dressed in matching white suits with grey shorts.
Grand Duchess Stephanie, 41, exercised a privilege only she and a handful of other female royals have when meeting with the pope.
An invitation to meet with the leader of the Catholic church at the Vatican is a rare opportunity afforded to heads of state, royalty and other important people.
But there is a strict dress code that must be adhered to, and select royal women worldwide have been granted the special honour of wearing something other than black.
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Grand Duchess Stephanie is one of seven royal women allowed to wear white in the presence of the pope. (Getty)
Known as the ‘privilège du blanc’, or the privilege of the white, the honour allows select royal women to wear white in the presence of the Pontiff.
Just seven senior royals from around the world officially qualify for the ‘privilège du blanc’ dress code: the wearing of a white outfit with a white head covering.
In Italian, the official language of the Holy See, the rule is known as il privilegio del blanco.
Those that have been granted the rare honour are Queen Letizia of Spain and her mother-in-law Queen Sofia, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her mother-in-law Queen Paola, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Marina of the House of Savoy (in Italy) and now Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg.
Prince Charles is now the youngest royal heir in the world, aged five. (Getty)
At Pope Leo’s inauguration last year, Catholic royals wore white while others chose black or muted colours. (Getty)
The honour is extended to royals from Catholic countries and to the royal houses whose regents have been given the title ‘(Most) Catholic Majesty’, or Rex catholicissimus, and who preside over a predominately Catholic country.
Catholic monarchs who have remained loyal to the Vatican over the centuries are granted the privilege and the wearing of white is symbolic of the purity and innocence of these heads of state.
The rule was in force at two history making-events that took place earlier in early 2025: the funeral of Pope Francis April 26, and the inauguration of his successor, Pope Leo XIV, on May 18.
Others who meet the Pontiff usually wear black or muted colours. Queen Camilla chose a black silk Fiona Clare dress, paired with a Philip Treacy mantilla, when she and King Charles were welcomed to the Vatican by Pope Leo in October.
The audience with Pope Leo at the weekend was the first meeting between Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family and the pontiff since Leo’s inauguration, which was attended by Guillaume’s parents, then-Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Teresa.
In October last year, Henri abdicated the throne after 25 years in favour of his son.
The change of throne has also had implications for the new Grand Duke’s son, Prince Charles, who at five years old is now the world’s youngest royal heir.
Grand Duchess, too, is also the world’s youngest senior female royal.
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