King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Vatican

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium had a private Audience with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace during a visit to the Vatican on September 14th, which is their first official visit to the Vatican since 2015, though the King and Queen attended the Funeral of Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year.

King Philippe

and Queen Mathilde of Belgium had a private Audience with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace during a visit to the Vatican on September 14th, which is their first official visit to the Vatican since 2015, though the King and Queen attended the Funeral of Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year.

Ahead of the King and Queen’s private Audience with the Pope, King Philippe introduced the Belgian Delegation and there was an exchange of gifts. The King and Queen also met with Monsignor Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See.

Queen Mathilde exercised her Privilège du Blanc, the special Papal Privilege that allows certain Catholic Queens and Consorts to wear white in the presence of the Pope, and was also wearing her Wedding Earrings.

Privilège du Blanc | Royal Visits to the Vatican