Pope John Paul II received the newlywed Prince and Princess of Asturias for a formal audience at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on this day in 2004, 20 years ago, which was their first Official Visit to the Vatican just a month after their Wedding. The Prince’s parents also had an Audience with the Pope during their Honeymoon, in 1962.
The Prince wore White Tie with the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Charles III. The Princess of Asturias wore a Black Gown with a mantilla and peineta and the Sash and Star of the Order of Charles III (for the first time).
With the Official Title of Rex Catholicissimus ‘Their Most Catholic Majesties’, the Spanish Royal Family have made the most Official Visits to the Vatican over the years! King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain (wearing the Fleur-de-Lys Tiara) had an Audience with Pope Pius XI at the Vatican in 1923. Queen Victoria Eugenie (wearing her Mellerio Shell Tiara and the Cartier Diamond and Pearl Tiara) also had Papal Audiences after being exiled from Spain and widowed, though she did wear
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Newly weds Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia had an Audience with the Pope on a visit to the Vatican during her honeymoon in 1962 and she first exercised her Privilège du Blanc for her first Papal Audience with Pope John Paul I in 1977, two years after becoming Queen. Queen Sofia has made countless visits to the Vatican over the past six decades, attending for papal audiences, visits, funerals, inaugurations, and masses.
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The newlywed Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia had a very formal Audience with Pope John Paul II on their first visit to the Vatican in 2004, and had their first and only Papal Audience with Pope Francis just a few days after the Accession of King Felipe VI in 2014.
