Queen Rania of Jordan found the perfect look to meet the Pope. The rulers of the Hashemite Kingdom are the first royals welcomed to the Apostolic Palace for a private visit with the Holy Father. The queen, known for her refined elegance, arrived to meet Leo XIV wearing an ensemble designed by Fendi and wearing a dark veil on her head, in line with Vatican protocol.

So much has been discussed in recent months about dress code on the occasion of the funeral of Pope Francis and the subsequent mass at the beginning of the pontificate. Dictating the line at the time was Leo XIV who, as soon as he was elected, for his first appearance on the balcony of the Loggia of St. Peter’s, reintroduced the traditional stole and mozzetta, the red cape worn over the white cassock habit. Details like these were interpreted as a return to tradition, even in clothing, not only for himself but also for others.

On the contrary, Pope Francis seemed to be rather impatient with certain rituals and traditions, and as a result some guests didn’t adhere as strictly to certain elements of dress. Even Rania of Jordan, for her first meeting with Francis in 2013, opted for a traditional black dress but covered her head with a white veil like the Pope’s robe.

In 2022, for another visit, Rania adopted the same formula of black muted by white details: the veil that time was joined by sleeves and a decorative belt.

Now the Jordanian ruler has shown that she has again adapted the outfit to Prevost’s personality, traditional but also contemporary. She has therefore lightened the sobriety she had reserved for Benedict XVI, removing, for example, the dark stockings she sported to meet him.

The expected dress code for a woman meeting the Pontiff traditionally includes a black suit or dress, without too many frills and brands in plain sight, minimal jewelry, and a covered head. Those exempted from wearing dark colors are Catholic queens who, as we know, enjoy the so-called “privilège du blanc,” an exemption granted to a very small number of Catholic royals (among them Charlène of Monaco, Mathilde of Belgium, and Letizia of Spain) who are allowed to wear white when they meet the Pope.

Rania of Jordan, of course, is not among them—even though in September 1999, having become queen only a few months earlier, she visited John Paul II at Castel Gandolfo in a light-colored gown (it is said to have been silver-gray, not white) and a matching veil.

More than a quarter of a century has passed since that time, and Rania of Jordan’s handling of etiquette has changed since then. In recent years, she has not missed a beat, proving capable of striking the right balance between fashion and circumstance. Indeed, the royal did not disappoint expectations even in this first appointment with Pope Leo.

audience with the Holy Father, Rania turned to an Italian designer, Fendi, which recently announced Maria Grazia Chiuri as its new creative director. She selected a midi-length overcoat, made of black wool grain de poudre. The coat has a side fastening and hidden buttons, and features a fitted silhouette through the waist, into a flared bottom.

Her veil was so sheer that the long, black lace accessory seemed to almost be a part of her hair. Instead of letting it float freely, she tucked it under a thin metallic Fendi belt at her waist.

Her jewelry, too, was discreet: She wore an almost invisible chain, from which hung an initial charm, “R” for Rania, the queen who first met the new Pope.

Originally published in Vanity Fair Italia.