Queen Camilla Channels Queen Elizabeth in Powerful Black Veil for Historic Meeting with Pope Leo.HL

Queen Elizabeth at the Vatican in 1980 and Queen Camilla visiting the Vatican on Oct. 23, 2025.Credit : 

Queen Camilla’s visit to the Vatican on October 23, 2025, alongside King Charles, was not only a historic moment in royal diplomacy but also a nod to royal tradition and fashion. The 78-year-old Queen, dressed in a black silk Fiona Clare dress with a high neckline and long sleeves, wore a large black mantilla and matching veil, reminiscent of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s look during her 1980 meeting with Pope John Paul II. Queen Elizabeth’s visit was also marked by a black dress with a sheer veil, and Camilla’s ensemble drew comparisons to this iconic moment, further symbolizing continuity within the royal family.

The mantilla Camilla wore, designed by Philip Treacy, featured intricate dark tree leaf patterns at the headband and flowed into a long, sheer veil around her head. She also accessorized with a silver “raspberry pip” brooch, a piece that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth, adding a deeply personal and symbolic touch to her attire.

The tradition of wearing black for visits to the Vatican is rooted in the royal dress code known as “il privilegio del blanco” or “The Privilege of the White,” which grants only queens and princesses from Catholic countries the right to wear white during such visits. Therefore, Queen Camilla’s black attire followed this long-standing custom, just as her mother-in-law had done during her own state visits to the Vatican in 1961 and 1980.

During the visit, King Charles, 76, opted for a blue suit with a white shirt and black tie. The royal couple’s appearance at the Vatican was a significant moment in strengthening the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, with Charles, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, representing both institutions.

The visit included an audience with Pope Leo XIV, where Charles and Camilla exchanged gifts in the Pope’s Library, followed by an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel. The event was especially meaningful, coming during the 2025 Jubilee Year, which marks a special occasion every 25 years, underscoring the continued evolution of the monarchy’s role in global diplomatic and religious matters

Queen Camilla during a visit to the Pauline Chapel on October 

While the royal visit had originally been scheduled for April 2025, the engagements were delayed due to Pope Francis’s health issues. Following his death in April, Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, took over and welcomed the royal couple, symbolizing a new chapter in the Vatican’s relationship with the British monarchy.

The Queen and Prince Philip at the Vatican for an audience with the pope in 1980.

This historic visit, marked by the powerful symbolism of Camilla’s attire and the ongoing royal efforts to bridge cultural and religious gaps, exemplifies the monarchy’s evolving role in the modern world while maintaining the traditions that continue to define its legacy.

Queen Camilla, Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III depart the Holy See on October 23, 2025.