Spanish King returns to flood-ravaged Valencia as Queen pays sartorial tribute to victims

King Felipe VI of Spain has returned to flood-ravaged Valencia one week after protesters pelted him and his wife with mud and insults.

The monarch, wearing military fatigues, visited the 7800 armed forces personnel involved in the massive clean-up operation in the country's east, where at least 222 people have been confirmed dead, while a further 23 remain missing.

Meanwhile Queen Letizia attended an engagement in Madrid but made sure to send a sartorial message to the flood victims.

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The King has promised to return to the region next week with Queen Letizia.

On Tuesday, he spent time at the Jaime I military base in Bétera and later visited an amphibious assault ship moored in the port of Valencia.

The King said: "From the beginning we have wanted to convey that the desire to be in the affected places will be a constant in the near future.

"We each have to be in our place … Shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow or hand in hand, but all with the same heart."

Queen Letizia hosted two audiences at the Zarzuela Palace and debuted a pair of star-shaped earrings made by a company affected by the floods.

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The brand, Singularu, is based in Picanya in the Valencian region and its warehouse and offices were destroyed by the flood waters.

While there were no fatalities within the company, the 300 people who work for the brand, and its suppliers, are now trying to restore normal operations.

The 'Superstar' earrings, which are made of steel and plated in 18 carat gold, are currently on sale for just $30 AUD.

The Queen paired the earrings with a simple charcoal grey suit by Bimba y Lola.

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Letizia, 52, has previously used her clothing to send a message.

In March, 2022, the Queen made a silent but bold show of support to the people of Ukraine by wearing a blouse known as the vyshyvanka, a traditional garment adorned with colourful geometric patterns across the chest and sleeves and two cords topped with tassels.

Her outfit choice came just days after her husband condemned the invasion by Russia.

Last week, the King and Queen came under attack in Paiporta, an area where at least 62 people were killed in the flooding, the worst natural disaster in the country's recent history.

Felipe and Letizia were pelted with mud and rocks on November 3, 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.

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.

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 statement from Sanchez's office said the group had been pelted with "mud and other objects", forcing his bodyguard to "activate the security protocol and take him to the advanced command centre".

More than 100,000 people protested in Valencia at the weekend furious at the Prime Minister's failure to lead a national response to the natural disaster.