Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended a funeral mass for the victims of the devastating floods in Valencia on December 9, 2024, held at the city's cathedral. The royal couple joined hundreds of mourners in a memorial service for the 230 people who lost their lives in the catastrophic floods that struck the eastern part of the country.

Felipe and Letizia returned to the Valencia region, where they had previously faced anger from locals who were frustrated with the lack of aid from authorities. During their earlier visit, they were pelted with mud by survivors. However, this time, they were greeted with applause as they arrived for the mass at Valencia's cathedral, the capital of the region most affected by the floods on October 29.

The event was marked by tight security, with the royal couple joining the relatives of the victims, national government ministers, mayors of affected towns, and regional president Carlos Mazon, who faced heavy criticism for his handling of the disaster. Archbishop of Valencia Enrique Benavent paid tribute to the volunteers and individuals who risked their lives to save others during the tragic event.

The floods, caused by torrential rains on October 29, resulted in at least 230 deaths, swept away cars, and destroyed homes and businesses, primarily in the Valencia region along the Mediterranean coast. Four people remain missing. Public anger over the authorities' response reached a peak in the town of Paiporta on November 3, when survivors threw mud at the king, queen, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The royal couple had previously cut short their visit due to the hostility but were welcomed with applause and cheers during their return on November 19. While they received applause at Monday's mass, some attendees booed and shouted "murderers!" as the couple left the cathedral. The government has since announced aid packages worth 16.6 billion euros ($17.5 billion) in grants and loans to support those affected.

A victims' association criticized the politicians' presence at the mass, stating that they should not use the event to improve their image. Sonia Fuster, a Valencia resident who lost her father in the floods, left the memorial early in protest of the elected officials' attendance, emphasizing that the event was for the families and not for those who failed to prevent the disaster.

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