Melania Trump arrived at the Vatican on Wednesday morning the picture of modesty: a knee-length black dress, arms covered and a black veil over her hair.
Her choice of outfit - in particular, the elegant veil - did not go unnoticed by those keeping a close eye on the First Lady during her husband`s first overseas tour as president.
Among them was the BBC`s North America editor, Jon Sopel.
"Interesting micro point," he tweeted.
"Melania Trump wears head covering for meeting with @Pontifex - but not when she was in Saudi Arabia.
" But BBC`s David Willey in Rome was unsurprised.
There is a strict protocol to be followed when meeting the Pope, which the White House will have been informed of.
A quick glance at the Vatican website lays out some of the rules: modest dress, with your shoulders covered, for those attending a Papal Audience - especially if indoors.
"It goes from deep lace mantillas to just a black veil," he explained.
"When the Queen went to see the Pope when she was younger, she dressed up like the Spanish infanta.
" Traditionally, heads of states and their partners have chosen to wear black, with a notable exception - a Catholic queen is allowed to wear white.
Mrs Trump`s predecessors have all followed similarly strict rules.
Michelle Obama chose to wear a veil on meeting Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, as did Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton on visiting the Vatican during their husbands` presidencies.
There are those who choose to ignore these protocols, of course.
There was an outcry when Cherie Blair, the wife of Britain`s then-prime minister, wore white in 2006 - but less so when Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wore a pale gold suit, and went without a head covering, in April this year.
"Things have become more relaxed over the last few years there are no hard and fast rules," a Vatican spokesman told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Despite this relaxing of the rules, however, Mrs Trump has stuck firmly to tradition.
This could be because she is believed to be a Roman Catholic, as suggested by her request for Pope Francis to bless her Rosary beads during the visit.
It should be noted that her stepdaughter Ivanka - who also decided against covering her head in Saudi Arabia - is not Catholic, having converted to Judaism, but still chose to wear a veil while at the Vatican.
Mr Willey was particularly impressed with Mrs Trump`s choice of outfit, however.
"To my eyes, what Mrs Trump wore was perfect.
She was rather elegantly dressed, and totally in keeping with the event," he said.
"The Trump party [as a whole] observed normal protocol and dress.
" But why the change from Saudi Arabia? Well, female foreign dignitaries are not required to cover their heads when they visit the kingdom - only Saudi nationals are.
What`s more, while the Vatican had spoken of a dress protocol to Mrs Trump`s office at the White House, no such requests had been made by Saudi Arabia, her communications director Stephanie Grisham told CNN.
Her choice of outfit - in particular, the elegant veil - did not go unnoticed by those keeping a close eye on the First Lady during her husband`s first overseas tour as president.
Among them was the BBC`s North America editor, Jon Sopel.
"Interesting micro point," he tweeted.
"Melania Trump wears head covering for meeting with @Pontifex - but not when she was in Saudi Arabia.
" But BBC`s David Willey in Rome was unsurprised.
There is a strict protocol to be followed when meeting the Pope, which the White House will have been informed of.
A quick glance at the Vatican website lays out some of the rules: modest dress, with your shoulders covered, for those attending a Papal Audience - especially if indoors.
"It goes from deep lace mantillas to just a black veil," he explained.
"When the Queen went to see the Pope when she was younger, she dressed up like the Spanish infanta.
" Traditionally, heads of states and their partners have chosen to wear black, with a notable exception - a Catholic queen is allowed to wear white.
Mrs Trump`s predecessors have all followed similarly strict rules.
Michelle Obama chose to wear a veil on meeting Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, as did Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton on visiting the Vatican during their husbands` presidencies.
There are those who choose to ignore these protocols, of course.
There was an outcry when Cherie Blair, the wife of Britain`s then-prime minister, wore white in 2006 - but less so when Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wore a pale gold suit, and went without a head covering, in April this year.
"Things have become more relaxed over the last few years there are no hard and fast rules," a Vatican spokesman told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Despite this relaxing of the rules, however, Mrs Trump has stuck firmly to tradition.
This could be because she is believed to be a Roman Catholic, as suggested by her request for Pope Francis to bless her Rosary beads during the visit.
It should be noted that her stepdaughter Ivanka - who also decided against covering her head in Saudi Arabia - is not Catholic, having converted to Judaism, but still chose to wear a veil while at the Vatican.
Mr Willey was particularly impressed with Mrs Trump`s choice of outfit, however.
"To my eyes, what Mrs Trump wore was perfect.
She was rather elegantly dressed, and totally in keeping with the event," he said.
"The Trump party [as a whole] observed normal protocol and dress.
" But why the change from Saudi Arabia? Well, female foreign dignitaries are not required to cover their heads when they visit the kingdom - only Saudi nationals are.
What`s more, while the Vatican had spoken of a dress protocol to Mrs Trump`s office at the White House, no such requests had been made by Saudi Arabia, her communications director Stephanie Grisham told CNN.
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