Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg were received by Pope Leo XIV at the Holy See. This visit marks the fourth official trip of the Grand Ducal Couple since the Grand Duke’s accession to the throne, following earlier visits to Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Their sons, Prince Charles and Prince François, were also present. Upon arrival at the Apostolic Palace, they were welcomed by Father Edward Daniang Daleng.
Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore white, as she is one of the few women entitled to the privilege du blanc, which allows certain royal consorts to wear white in the presence of the Pope. This exclusive tradition permits only a small number of Catholic queens and princesses to wear white during papal audiences, while other women are required to wear black.
Those permitted to wear white include the Queen of Spain, the Queen of Belgium, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Princess of Monaco, and the princesses of the House of Savoy. This privilege is an honour granted by the Vatican as a sign of gratitude to royal houses that remained loyal to the Catholic Church during the Reformation, when many other kingdoms adopted Protestantism.
Very unflattering look for Stéphanie. My first impression was that this person must be a nurse. - But lovely that they brought their two little boys to the Pope.
ReplyDeleteI thought of a person in a religious order as well at first.
DeleteSo does that mean the children (boys) may also wear white?
ReplyDeleteChildren can wear whatever they want to visit the Vatican or see the Pope when granted an audience. As long as they do not appear in beach wear, everything is good.
DeleteChildren have the right to wear white, including at funerals.
DeleteT
I cannot say exactly, from the photos currently posted, that Stephanie's dress is very flattering (in the foist photo she looks like a medieval nurse or a nun), but it is entirely suitable. It is simple and unembellished. However, for a visit with the Pope, flattery is not the objective, and the dress looks like it is bespoke, and made to measure, which is good for her.
ReplyDeleteHowever I wish she'd worn her hair differently. Let loose, or a simple updo style, as we have seen her wear beautifully on several occasions, would have been better with the white veil, rather than the back knot she has worn.
The two boys look very cute.
- Anon 9:13
Oh dear, that dress looks like an old, ill fitting nurses uniform.
ReplyDeleteJanet
There are mirrors in the palace right!
ReplyDelete@ 9:13
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that in the middle ages women wore short dresses and high heeled white leather shoes ! And certainly not nuns.
The dress may be bespoke but it doesn't flatter her at all. I see a ressemblence with the white dress Queen Mathilde wore when she visited the pope last year. Although Queen Mathilde receives often the comment that her waist sits too high her white dress fitted better than GD Stéphanie's.
Wearing her hair in a knot wasn't a good choice either. She should have worn her hair simply loose.
The 2 boys are well dressed in their white jackets and light grey bermudas.
Dieser betonte Busen sieht so urkomisch "verpackt" aus, kein schmeichelhaftes Kleid, der Schleier ist zu viel, zu Pelerine, für mich wirkt es wie angelehnt an päpstliche Stile aber unglücklicher kann man das nicht umsetzen. Da passt ja nix, eine "Mantilla" ist keine Pflicht aber sehr schön wenn sie noch geschätzt und getragen wird. Wobei ich mir sicher bin, das es davon genug Auswahl in der herzoglichen Kleiderkammer gibt, eine Sammlung aus Jahrzehnten sicher. So eine junge und schöne Familie, möge ihr Besuch im schönen Rom und Vatikan erfüllt sein. - Dorothe -
ReplyDeleteI thought the same regarding her hair. It appears too flat with the veil worn like this. The first photo is not at a good angle, however the other ones show her dress. For me perhaps if there was some ruching across the waist it would of been more flattering.
ReplyDeleteI would have thought that comments about been "flattering" or not, would not be mentioned in this context.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, MaryT, the Grand Duchess is dressed appropriately for the occasion and she looks lovely, the fourth photo is great, Rem
DeleteOn dirait Soeur Marie du Bon secours voire une infirmière du 19ème siècle
ReplyDeleteBien dit.
DeleteHmmm--the first photo is unfortunate. It really is a terrible photo in which poor Stephanie looks like she's a character in the Handmaid's Tale. However, the other photos are much better and the dress looks quite good on her. I think the big problem is her hair. It looks flat and the veil emphasizes that. A better hairstyle that adds a bit of lift would be a huge game changer here--nothing elaborate but something that adds a bit of fullness and lift. I love that they brought their little ones--they are adorable!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Agree with your comments. Her dress is not bad at all but the veil and her hairstyle are less good.
DeleteStephanie needs a good stylist and a good seamtress/tailor. She's too young for these matronly clothes and as a Grand Duchess she certainly has choices. The kids are cute and lucky them! Altho Pope Leo looks a little surprised they brought the kids.
ReplyDeleteThey surely asked if the children could come with them, otherwise they wouldn't be there.
DeleteThe added pictures show the front part of the dress better. The dress looks better on these pictures.
ReplyDeleteI’m in the minority here,but I think this is a flattering style on GD. The cut is perfect for her shape. My only tweak would be the shoes. I’d have preferred a nude heel rather than the white.
ReplyDeleteLowri.
I agree
DeleteI agree with you.
DeleteT
Can we please learn to behave as grown ups. Can't be that hard I bet this behaviour is not what we learned to our own children...
ReplyDeletePerhaps the word flattering is offensive to some, so l will say gives her a nice silhoutte
ReplyDeletePour rendre visite au Pape à part la couleur blanche, je ne sais pas quel style Stéphanie aurait pu adopter ? Là, je pense qu’elle est très bien !
ReplyDeleteA nurse? A Nun? (well not with the low cut bit in the middle of the chest), ohhhh it's Stephanie in thee most unflattering garment I think I've ever seen her wear. Just think, from her beautiful Ellie Saab wedding dress to this, she needs a stylist to help her!
ReplyDeleteI disagree with all the negative comments expressed. I would however like to be very critical about the choice for pic1. It was not difficult to start with a better one and give a better impression.
ReplyDeletePresque une tenue de mariée.
ReplyDeleteEt les petits garçons semblent habillés comme en été, pour le mois de janvier c'est quand même bizarre !
Paloma.
Dans la bonne société anglaise surtout, les petits garçons restent en culottes courtes jusqu'à 10 ans à peu près. Ce ne sont pas des vêtements d'été.
DeletePas seulement les jambes nues mais aussi les couleurs, blanc et beige ça fait tenue d'été, ainsi que les chaussures de tennis.
DeleteP.
Couleurs claires volontairement pour le Vatican
DeleteThe original Pic 1, that was posted this morning, and that caused almost all of us to comment unfavourably, has now been removed (so if you missed it, you've missed it) and a whole new bunch of other photos have been added. These new additions show both the dress and Stephanie in a better way than the original.
ReplyDeleteAlso, all of a sudden, I cannot reply directly to any particular comment like we used to. Is anyone else experiencing this? DSC seems to be the only one who can, as per the first two comments.
- Anon 9:13
@ Anon 9:13, sometimes the reply button is on the screen, so I could reply to comments, other times it is not. Christine
DeleteWow so many mean comments. Why? Stephanie looks so sweet and lovely and with a beautiful demeanour and smile. It not fair and not kind to criticise a human so much. She’s a mum of young kids, and when she and her husband show up, they have clearly both put thought and effort into their outfits, and the four of them are open and smiling and gracious. They are just humans and it’s not fair to demand or expect perfection.
ReplyDeleteOf course they are sweet people, nobody doubts that!
DeleteBut this site is about fashion, and of that Stephanie doesnot show much understanding.
This dress is better on the later pictures, she’s got this angelic face, but their is always a but..that I donot dare to mention here to avoid severe critics
I think Stephanie CAN continue dressing in this current style, which fits her quite well most of the time.
DeleteFor those who criticize this white dress, almost all white dresses + a veil, can be seen as having a connection with a bridal dress.
I agree, it has gotten to a point where I just come here to look at the photos; it seems as if posters have become mean spirited and of course experts in fashion who know better and can tear anyone down, it’s very disappointing and yes, the usual excuse of “it’s a fashion site” will be applied and used to just sound bitter and angry because they don’t like what the person is wearing, how awful we have become.
Delete14:00 Well said!
DeleteI understand your point, 14:00. f.i about becoming "angry because they don’t like what the person is wearing, how awful we have become". This can be repeated.
DeleteI am surprised by all the negativity too, Mary T. I think that Stephanie’s dress is quite nice and does not look like a nurse’s uniform or a religious habit (perhaps the white pumps have something to do with the “nurse’s uniform” impression some commenters have?). I even think her hair looks beautiful! Wearing it loose, which many have — surprisingly! — said would have been preferable, would imo have created an inappropriately casual look given the occasion. I am only disappointed that Stephanie did not choose a heavy lace mantilla with a scalloped edge; that would have been so beautiful! — but her sheer veil is perfectly nice. — Jane
ReplyDeleteShe´s lovely as usual. As a Catholic Princess she definitely has a strong feeling for how she would like to dress once paying a visit to the Pope. Vanity wouldn´t be the word she´d have in mind, I´d guess. Her hair looks lovely under the veil. Some here suggested she should have let her hair down. Are you kidding?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, 00:26.
DeleteI feel the style, design and plainness of the white dress is due to the occasion. Not an ounce of embellishment or such like. The top half of the dress I like. Dress code, possibly, no color hence the white shoes. Her lace coverage is pretty not overdone, length or lace wise. I don't mind the silhouette, it's not unflattering. The little ones look adorable.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great dress on Stephanie. I hope it marks a turn in her sartorial style.
ReplyDeleteCH
The dress is simple but lovely. However I think she would benefit from a better undergarment that could lift her bust. The hair with the veil is unflattering. She has beautiful hair and perhaps an updo or the like would have looked better. On the other hand, she is visiting the pope and perhaps wanted to be less showy as a sign of respect which is perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteShe's appropriately dressed, and looks very nice. Why all the critiques?
ReplyDeleteI must agree it's not ideal but on the other hand it's not such a bad dress either, for me she is completly OK. We see much more less fortunate choices on ladies sometimes (with less criticism).
ReplyDeleteThe road leads to the Holy Sea. Visiting the Pope is always a good thing. Nice dress. The highlight is the little boys they are really cute.
ReplyDeletePost a Comment