Yes, the Pope Has a Dress Code Even Presidents and Royals Must Follow

Suppose you're meeting the Pope. What do you wear? It's a critical question governed by millennia of tradition. While the Vatican has recently loosened its rules about casual clothing, many members of the royal family still opt for traditional lace outfits.

At one time, what you wore depended both on your own faith and on the forum of your visit. For instance, while a black lace veil was considered traditional for most during a visit to the Vatican, Catholic queens wore white lace. There's only seven women in the world currently given "the privilege of the white" while meeting the Pope: the seven current Catholic queens and princesses. Those royals are Spain's Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia, Belgium's Queen Paola and Queen Mathilde, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Princess Marina of Naples and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

As expectations started to waiver, some simply chose to veto the veil and sport an all-black outfit. And when meeting the Pope at the White House or the airport—or pretty much any other place in the world—black (or white) has never been necessary.

Here is a visual history of all the presidents and royals who have dressed for their visit with the pontif.