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She adhered strictly to the protocol, as expected. At Pope Francis' funeral, Queen Letizia had to wear black or dark tones, with a long-sleeved dress, and avoid accessories as much as possible. The rule also applied to her shoes, which should preferably match the outfit and have low heels, and to her jewelry, as wearing anything flashy is not allowed. On top of that, Vatican protocol recommends covering the head with a mantilla, which the Queen could wear with or without a comb — in the end, she chose to go without it.
The King and Queen of Spain arrived in Rome yesterday, Friday, to attend the State funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. They visited the Spanish Embassy, where they received a warm welcome from Spanish citizens. Before the funeral mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Royals and the Spanish delegation paid their respects before the Pontiff’s casket, alongside members of other Royal Houses.
Queen Letizia wore a very traditional black dress, paired with a matching lace mantilla. For her jewelry—discreet and understated—she chose her Australian pearl earrings, which can be lengthened or shortened depending on the occasion, and a brooch full of history. The brooch is one of the 'joyas de pasar—pieces' Queen Victoria Eugenie, wife of King Alfonso XIII, left in inheritance to her successors. It’s a circular gold piece featuring a large central pearl surrounded by two halos of diamonds, with a pear-shaped pearl hanging from it.
We’ve seen her wear this brooch before, at Juan Gómez-Acebo’s funeral and during the visit of Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to Spain. On that occasion, she modified the piece by removing the hanging pearl — something she hadn’t dared to do until now, following in the footsteps of Queen Sofia, who had previously adjusted it.
When has Queen Letizia worn a mantilla with a peineta?
There have been very few times when Queen Letizia has worn a mantilla with a peineta. She chose to wear it during her first visit to the Vatican in 2004, just a few weeks after her wedding to King Felipe, for her meeting with Pope John Paul II. However, during her later trips in 2011 and 2013, she decided to go without it. And since becoming Queen, we haven’t seen her wear this very traditional Spanish duo again — not even at flag sponsorship ceremonies, where Queen Sofia and the Infantas Elena and Cristina always wore the full look.
This choice is no coincidence. Since becoming Queen, Letizia has clearly preferred to adapt traditional styles to modern times for official events. She’s worked to set her style apart from that of previous generations, aiming to show a monarchy that feels more in step with the 21st century. That’s why she often opts for more discreet veils or simple headpieces instead of the classic mantilla and peineta.
We have, however, seen Queen Sofia wear it regularly. The first time was during her honeymoon. After converting to Catholicism, the then-Princess Sofia was received by Pope John XXIII at the Vatican, attending the audience dressed in black with a mantilla and peineta. She also wore them at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square and at the inaugural Mass for Pope Benedict XVI, where she wore white, making use of the privilege granted to Catholic queens. And that’s not to mention the many religious and formal events over the years where she has proudly worn this very traditional Spanish look.
The 'Privilege of White' That Queen Sofia Wore at Pope Paul VI’s Funeral
The funeral of Pope Paul VI, held in the summer of 1978, was very different from those of other pontiffs. Not only did it take place in St. Peter's Square to accommodate the large crowds who came to say their final goodbye, but it also marked the last time Catholic queens could exercise the "privilege of white" at such an event.
The "privilege of white" is a special exception to Vatican protocol, granted to a very small group of Catholic royalty — a group that includes Queen Letizia and only five other women: Queen Sofia, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Queens Paola and Mathilde of Belgium. It allows them to wear white — the color of the Pope’s cassock — in his presence, but only during audiences and non-solemn meetings. This symbolic privilege, representing purity, innocence, and peace, is a mark of deference to royal houses that have remained faithful to the Catholic Church.
Although this exception doesn’t apply today at funerals—where mourning attire is required—back then, things were different. Even Monaco's royalty had not yet received the privilege at that time. Queen Sofia wore a white mantilla and dress, complemented by a three-strand pearl necklace. It was truly a historic image.