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| Grace of Monaco with Prince Rainier |
After the meeting they would descend the Scala Regina, enter the Basilica and kneel before the confessio to offer a brief prayer in silence. After, they would exist through the main entrance into St. Peter's Square where their motorcade would be waiting to pick them up. This rite of homage is still continued to this day, although not as colorful since the Papal Court was sadly abolished.
In the first photo can be seen the Prince and Princess of Monaco, on their official state visit on April 30, 1957. True to protocol, the Princess is dressed in a traditional head-to-toe abito scuro with Spanish veil, and diamond diadem, the so-called Bains de Mer tiara, a wedding gift that showcases the colors of Monaco, read and white, as a ruby and diamond sparkler (that could be converted to wear as a necklace or a series of clip-style broaches). She also wears a diamond festoon neckless and similar bracelets with lovely earrings.
While the Prince is vested in military dress, holding his hat and gloves (he also wears the Order of the Golden Spur, the oldest of papal awards, bestowed upon him by order of the Pope the previous day). The Cardinal Archpriest's train of his cappa magna is stretched out to its full length because the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is not present.
In the two color photos below the noble couple can be seen on their visit two years later to see the new Pope in 1959. A news reel video of the 1957 visit can be seen here.
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| Meeting the Pope in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican |
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| Exiting into St. Peter's Square |
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| Praying before the tomb of St. Peter |
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| Umberto II of Savoy, the last king of Italy |
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| Cortege image with members of the Papal Court, Sediari, and Papal Armed Forces |
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| Exiting through St. Peter's Square |
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| Exiting St. Peter's Basilica |
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| Descending the Scala Regia of the Apostolic Palace |
