Queen Camilla Channels Queen Elizabeth in Striking Black Veil for Historic Meeting with Pope Leo

During their visit to the Vatican, King Charles and Queen Camilla exchanged gifts with Pope Leo and attended a prayer ceremony alongside him

Queen Camilla is taking a leaf out of the late Queen Elizabeth’s fashion book.

During the Queen and King Charles’ historic visit to the Vatican on Thursday, Oct. 23, to meet Pope Leo and take part in a prayer service alongside him, Camilla, 78, notably wore a black dress and matching veil — reminiscent of looks her mother-in-law wore during visits to the Vatican.

The silk Fiona Clare dress she wore featured a high neckline and long sleeves and was styled with a silver “raspberry pip” brooch that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth.

The highlight of the look was the large Philip Treacy mantilla she wore, which featured dark tree leaves at the headband and flowed out into a long, sheer veil around her head.

Queen Camilla during a visit to the Pauline Chapel on October 23, 2025.Pool/Getty

The look drew comparisons to the late Queen Elizabeth during her meeting with Pope John Paul at the Vatican in May 1980. For that event, Elizabeth, who was accompanied by Prince Philip, wore a black floor-length dress with long sleeves and paired it with black gloves, a black purse and pearl necklaces and earrings.

She also notably wore a large sheer veil, which was styled from a silver crown that adorned her head.

Queen Elizabeth also made a state visit to the Vatican in 1961 and also wore all-black for the occasion.

The Queen and Prince Philip at the Vatican for an audience with the pope in 1980.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

As for why both royals wore black for their visits to the Vatican, it’s because of a royal dress code called “il privilegio del blanco” — which translates as “The Privilege of the White” — and means only queens and princesses from Catholic countries are permitted to wear white while visiting the Vatican, according to Tatler.

The royals who would fall under this category include Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, per the outlet.

As for King Charles, 76, he opted to wear a blue suit with a white button-up shirt and black tie for the visit with the pope on Thursday.

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

During the King and Queen’s visit, they had their first audience with Pope Leo and exchanged gifts with him in the Pope’s Library. They also took part in an ecumenical service alongside the pope in the Sistine Chapel.

Their visit comes during the 2025 Jubilee Year, marked every 25 years, and is said by Buckingham Palace to be a “significant moment” in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which Charles is Supreme Governor.

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Sistine Chapel on Oct. 23, 2025.Vatican Pool/Getty

The royals are fulfilling a commitment that was originally scheduled during Charles’ visit to Rome in April. However, due to Pope Francis’s ailing health, they were not able to fulfill their commitments. They did meet Pope Francis briefly on April 9, but he died on April 21. Pope Leo, the first American-born leader of the global Catholic Church, was elected in a conclave of cardinals in May.