When Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, she adhered to centuries-old Vatican dress codes, donning a black dress with long sleeves and a lace mantilla. This tradition, steeped in symbolism and decorum, reflected her position as a Protestant royal meeting the Catholic Church’s highest figure. However, by the time she met Pope Francis in 2017,
things had noticeably shifted. Wearing a pale gold coatdress without a veil, Camilla defied conventional protocol—yet received no criticism, as the Vatican itself had become more relaxed on such matters. Still, certain customs remain: during her final meeting with Pope Francis in 2025 as Queen Consort, Camilla returned to black attire, respecting the nuanced expectations placed on royals of non-Catholic faiths. Interestingly, while the dress code has evolved, the use of color—or lack thereof—continues to carry deep symbolic weight and subtle political meaning…
