Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia comfort flood victims' families during memorial mass
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have attended a mass in memory of the 200-plus victims of severe flooding in Valencia, the worst in Spain's modern history.
The King and Queen joined relatives of those who had perished in the storms for the service inside Valencia Cathedral on Monday evening.
The death toll sits at 220 following torrential rain and flooding, which hit the coastal region in late October.
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Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain greet the families of the victims at a memorial mass for the flood victims, at Valencia Cathedral on Monday evening. Europa Press via Getty Images
There was widespread criticism of local authorities for taking around 12 hours to respond to a red weather warning by the country's national meteorological office.
The mammoth cleaning operation is still underway with many expecting it to take months, or even years.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia were seated on two red chairs at the front of the cathedral on Monday and met with mourners following the service.
More than 200 people died in the floods, the worst in Spain's modern history. Europa Press via Getty Images
Last month, the King and Queen returned to the area devastated by October's catastrophic flooding for the first time since enraged survivors pelted them with mud on during their first visit to the disaster zone.
They toured the town of Chiva which was ripped apart by a crushing wall of water that overflowed a normally dry gorge on the night of October 29.
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Two of the four bridges spanning the gorge were demolished and several houses were washed away.
Queen Letizia, with King Felipe VI, remained in the crowd in Paiporta, near Valencia, during their visit on November 3 when they were pelted with mud. AP
On November 3, the King and Queen came under attack in Paiporta, an area where at least 62 people were killed in the flooding.
Felipe and Letizia were pelted with mud and rocks five days after the floods, while the crowds shouted "murderers" and "get out, get out" at them.
Queen Letizia was hit on the nose with mud and sprayed with a hose while the King initially looked shaken as mud, stones and a glass jar were thrown towards him and his entourage.
Queen Letizia took time to speak with people affected by the disaster. AP
But the royal couple were later praised for standing their ground and talking to the angry residents for about an hour.
The Queen was pictured comforting several people in the crowd, hugging those affected with mud stains visible on her hands and face.
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Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez accompanied the King and Queen at first but soon left with his security detail after coming under attack.
A week later, King Felipe returned to flood-ravaged Valencia to visit the 7800 armed forces personnel involved in the massive clean-up operation.
Since the flooding, Queen Letizia has worn various garments and accessories from brands originating in the affected municipalities to make her support known, including a pair of star-shaped earrings made by Singularu, a a company whose warehouse was destroyed in the disaster.
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