The Spanish Royal Family and the October Flooding in Spain

[An Ard Ri]

The Spanish Royal Family and the October Flooding in Spain


Please use this thread to post news and information regarding visits and events associated with members of the Spanish RF in association with the October Flooding in Spain



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[Blog Real]

Flag at half mast at the Zarzuela Palace.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851916024913781060

Yesterday, King Felipe VI held a video conference with the Military Emergency Unit to learn first-hand about the situation in the areas affected by the floods.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851582254327197860

Message from Grand Duke Henri to the King of Spain following the terrible floods that have hit the east of the country:

Télégramme de condoléances adressé à Sa Majesté le Roi d'Espagne | Cour grand-ducale

Site officiel de la famille grand-ducale luxembourgeoise, le rôle de Chef de l'Etat du Grand-Duc.

monarchie.lu

Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg on Instagram: "📝 Message de S.A.R. le Grand-Duc adressé à S.M. le Roi d'Espagne suite aux terribles inondations qui frappent l’est du pays : Majesté, Cher Felipe, La Grande-Duchesse et moi-même sommes profondément choqu

765 likes, 8 comments - courgrandducale on October 31, 2024: "📝 Message de S.A.R. le Grand-Duc adressé à S.M. le Roi d'Espagne suite aux terribles inondations qui frappent l’est du pays : Majesté, Cher Felipe, La Grande-Duchesse et moi-même sommes profondément choqués par les terribles...

www.instagram.com

Reaction of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to the flooding and the damage in southeastern Spain:

Reacción del rey Willem-Alexander y la reina Máxima a la dana y las inundaciones en el sureste de España

"Nuestro corazón está con todas las personas afectadas por la dana que ha azotado el entorno de Valencia. Compartimos el dolor de las víctimas. En estos días de miedo y devastación, queremos transmitir nuestra solidaridad con el pueblo español, al que nos sentimos especialmente unidos." - El rey...

www.royal-house.nl

Koninklijk Huis on Instagram: "“Ons hart gaat uit naar allen die getroffen zijn door het noodweer in en rond Valencia. Wij delen het verdriet om de slachtoffers. In deze dagen vol angst en ontreddering leven wij mee met het Spaanse volk, waarmee wij

4,283 likes, 68 comments - koninklijkhuis on October 31, 2024: "“Ons hart gaat uit naar allen die getroffen zijn door het noodweer in en rond Valencia. Wij delen het verdriet om de slachtoffers. In deze dagen vol angst en ontreddering leven wij mee met het Spaanse volk, waarmee wij ons zo...

www.instagram.com

According to the Royal Household, King Felipe VI has given instructions to the Security Service of the Royal House and to the Royal Guard to make all necessary personnel available to the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence to collaborate in the tasks being carried out by the State Security Forces and Corps and the UME in the areas affected by the DANA.

La última decisión del Rey Felipe para ayudar a los más damnificados de la DANA

Tras el elogiado gesto de la Reina Sofía y su ayuda económica a los afectados de la DANA, su hijo vuelve a dar un paso al frente.

www.semana.es

King Philippe of the Belgians was in contact with King Felipe VI following the terrible floods that hit Spain.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1852042036096176640

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

A terrible, terrible tragedy. We had a similar event in Germany in 2021, 135 people dead, thousands of houses, streets etc damaged or destroyed by catastrophic floods. 3 years later the survivors are still struggling and there is an ongoing blame game of who is responsible, politicians, flood desaster management etc, disgraceful.

 

[lula]

The King and Queen will visit the areas most affected by the DANA this weekend

The King and Queen will travel this weekend to the areas most affected by the DANA and have already contacted the mayors of the municipalities that have suffered the most damage, according to sources from Zarzuela.

Their visit will be carried out in such a way that it does not interfere with the work being carried out by the emergency services, local police, the State Security Forces and also the Armed Forces and social organisations, according to the sources.

The King and Queen have already spoken with the mayors of the Valencian municipalities of Paiporta, Utiel and Sedaví, and Letur (Albacete).

Los reyes visitarán las zonas más afectadas por la DANA este fin de semana

Felipe VI y la reina Letizia ya han hablado con los alcaldes y alcaldesas de <strong>Paiporta, Utiel y Sedaví</strong>

www.levante-emv.com

 

[Princess B]

The devastation is catastrophic and I say this as someone that lives in Valencia

 

[Blog Real]

King Mohammed VI sends condolence message to King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia following Valencia Floods.

HM the King Sends Condolence Message to Spain’s Sovereigns Following Valencia Floods

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, sent a message of condolences and compassion to the Sovereigns of Spain, His Majesty King Felipe VI and Her Majesty Queen Letizia following the floods that devastated the Valencia region.

www.maroc.ma

Message from Margareta, Custodian of the Crown:

Romanian Royal Family on Instagram: "Familia mea și cu mine avem cea mai mare compasiune și profund regret pentru pierderile de vieți omenești și pagubele enorme provocate de inundațiile teribile din Spania. Gândul nostru se îndreaptă în special că

166 likes, 2 comments - familiaregalaaromaniei on November 1, 2024: "Familia mea și cu mine avem cea mai mare compasiune și profund regret pentru pierderile de vieți omenești și pagubele enorme provocate de inundațiile teribile din Spania. Gândul nostru se îndreaptă în special către marile...

www.instagram.com

Message from Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy:

Ordini Dinastici on Instagram: "COMUNICATO STAMPA DI S.A.R. IL PRINCIPE GRAN MAESTRO EMANUELE FILIBERTO DI SAVOIA, DUCA DI SAVOIA, PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE, PRINCIPE DI VENEZIA Sua Altezza Reale il Principe Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Gran Maestro deg

125 likes, 0 comments - ordinidinasticirealcasasavoia on November 1, 2024: "COMUNICATO STAMPA DI S.A.R. IL PRINCIPE GRAN MAESTRO EMANUELE FILIBERTO DI SAVOIA, DUCA DI SAVOIA, PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE, PRINCIPE DI VENEZIA Sua Altezza Reale il Principe Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Gran Maestro degli...

www.instagram.com

 

[Alondra]

A terrible, terrible tragedy. We had a similar event in Germany in 2021, 135 people dead, thousands of houses, streets etc damaged or destroyed by catastrophic floods. 3 years later the survivors are still struggling and there is an ongoing blame game of who is responsible, politicians, flood desaster management etc, disgraceful.

I fear the same will happen in Spain. The catastrophe is enormous and already some opposition politicians are getting into the blame game trying to score points on the tragedy.

The Military Emergency Unit has been fully deployed in Valencia with another 500 military personnel joining today. Spain is resilient and very effective under difficult circumstances. We have a strong community sense and very good logistics. The problem is the storm is not letting go, is literally still feeding itself in too many parts of Spain, including still the Valencia's autonomous region.

 

[lula]

The King holds an extraordinary meeting with Pedro Sánchez to analyze the situation caused by the DANA

El Rey mantiene un despacho extraordinario con Pedro Sánchez para analizar la situación provocada por la DANA

El Rey Felipe VI mantiene este viernes un despacho extraordinario con el presidente del Gobierno, Pedro...

www.europapress.es

King Felipe VI expresses his solidarity to Torrent

King Felipe VI has expressed his solidarity to the municipality of Torrent. He did so through a telephone call with the mayor, Amparo Folgado. The contact, which took place on Friday morning, was marked "by the warmth and solidarity" of the Head of State, who expressed "his empathy in the face of the serious damage suffered by Torrent and his support for the municipality in this difficult moment," according to a statement from the council.

El rey Felipe VI traslada su solidaridad a Torrent

El monarca se ha interesado por la situación de este y el resto de municipios afectados

www.levante-emv.com

 

[AnaC]

The Royal Household, following the King's order, has sent 100 Royal Guards and 42 royal protection officers to Valencia

El Rey mantiene un despacho extraordinario con Pedro Sánchez para analizar la situación provocada por la DANA

El Rey Felipe VI mantiene este viernes un despacho extraordinario con el presidente del Gobierno, Pedro...

www.europapress.es

 

[Muhler]

Terrible! There are, I understand, entire villages they haven't been able to reach yet. In one of them, reports here in DK says, the situation is catastrophic. There is no village left.
The official death toll until now is nearing 200, but again according to the reports, that number may double when they finally reach that village.
And more rain is coming, it seems.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I really feel for everyone involved, humans, animals, so much suffering. In Germany, after 3 years, the Ahrtal has not gone back to normal. A lot of infrastructure is still on provisional basis, people are still traumatized, you can see empty spaces, broken houses, construction going on ... they estimate 10 years until back to 'normal'. Most people remain disappointed and frustrated with the authorities, many had insurance but they refuse to pay because it was 'act of god', people dont have the stamina for year long lawsuits, losing faith in politics and worse ... I really do hope that Spain will do a better crisis managment than we did here.

Of course now its about first aid and response, but it is even more important what comes after ... in one, two, three years, the danger of being forgotten.

 

[lula]

King and Queen speak with the mayors of Chiva, Catarroja, Torrent and Algemesí
They have expressed their support in the face of the catastrophe caused by the dana in their localities

Los Reyes hablan con los alcaldes de Chiva, Catarroja, Torrent y Algemesí

Han expresado su apoyo ante la catástrofe causada por la dana en sus localidades

www.larazon.es

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

The last city I lived in experienced a similar flood in 2013. We were two streets away from the flood zone, where people eventually had to have their houses demolished, and escaped with only minor damage to our roof. I am living somewhere else now, but still get anxious when we have heavy rain, even after 11 years.

The people and regions impacted here will eventually recover, but this experience will leave terrible scars for years to come, both physical and emotional.

Unfortunately, events such as these are probably going to become less rare and more normal, given the accumulating impact of climate change.

 

[Blog Real]

Message from King Charles III of United Kingdom:

The Royal Family on Instagram: "A message from The King to King Felipe VI of Spain regarding the ongoing floods in Valencia."

42K likes, 441 comments - theroyalfamily on November 2, 2024: "A message from The King to King Felipe VI of Spain regarding the ongoing floods in Valencia.".

www.instagram.com

The King and Queen of Spain thank all the messages of condolence and support from Heads of State, leaders and international authorities.

Casa de Su Majestad el Rey on Instagram: "Nuestro agradecimiento por los mensajes de condolencia, consuelo, apoyo y solidaridad con los españoles por las devastadoras consecuencias de la DANA. - Our deep gratitude for the messages of condolence, co

3,130 likes, 56 comments - casareal.es on November 2, 2024: "Nuestro agradecimiento por los mensajes de condolencia, consuelo, apoyo y solidaridad con los españoles por las devastadoras consecuencias de la DANA. - Our deep gratitude for the messages of condolence, consolation, support and...

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1852731442200981875

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit the area affected by the DANA on Sunday with Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, and Carlos Arturo Mazón, President of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Don Felipe will preside over the Crisis Committee on Monday to monitor the catastrophe.

Los Reyes visitan este domingo con Sánchez y Mazón la zona afectada por la DANA

Don Felipe presidirá el lunes el Comité de crisis para el seguimiento de la catástrofe

www.eldebate.com

 

[Alondra]

The President of the autonomous region of Valencia FINALLY pushed the button to get the full resources of the government of Spain. 10,000 troops are being deployed in Valencia in the biggest deployment of military in our country in peace times.

In the meantime, thousands of volunteer civilians coming from all over Spain are helping with cleaning. The civilian help has been so massive that the autonomous region is now restricting their movement to the worst affected areas, where heavy machinery is being deployed.

Letizia and Felipe are visiting the area this weekend. They are, like the rest of us, dealing with the shock. Felipe put the royal guard at the disposal of the government if they were needed in Valencia.

Terrible! There are, I understand, entire villages they haven't been able to reach yet. In one of them, reports here in DK says, the situation is catastrophic. There is no village left.
The official death toll until now is nearing 200, but again according to the reports, that number may double when they finally reach that village.
And more rain is coming, it seems.

Some villages sustaining the worst of the storm were impossible to reach. They had 445 litres per square metre in 8 hours. It's beyond governments to be able to deal with this freak of nature.

Help is finally getting thru but it's going to take years to deal with the aftermath. Spain has always had these t;type of storms, we call them the "gota fria" but it's never been so extraordinarily destructive as what's happened in Valencia.

Rescue services have been working hard and hopefully there won't be double the death people as the numbers we have now.

 

[Blog Real]

The visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the areas of Valencia affected by the DANA, today.

Inicio - Actividades y Agenda - Detalle Actividad

Detalle Actividad

www.casareal.es

https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2024-11-03/visita-reyes-valencia-zonas-afectadas-dana_3995858/

Los Reyes Felipe y Letizia ya están en Valencia mostrando su apoyo a los afectados de la DANA

Felipe VI y doña Letizia han visitado este domingo algunas de las zonas más afectadas por el temporal, que deja ya un reguero de víctimas por encima de los 200 fallecidos

www.hola.com

Primeras imágenes de los Reyes Felipe y Letizia en la tragedia de Valencia tras la DANA

Casa Real anunció que el domingo 3 de noviembre los Reyes Felipe y Letizia estarían presentes en una de las zonas más afectadas por la DANA.

www.semana.es

Primeras imágenes de los reyes en Valencia

Los Reyes, Don Felipe y Doña Letizia, ya están en Valencia. Después de trascender que viajarían este domingo...

www.europapress.es

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853032398058815572

 

[Blog Real]

BREAKING:
In Valencia, there is a lot of tension in the visit of the King and Queen, they are showing it on RTVE. The visit may have to be cancelled!

Dana en Valencia, en directo: aumenta el número de muertos y de desaparecidos y últimas noticias hoy

Sigue en directo la última hora de las inundaciones en Valencia, Castellón y Alicante por la Dana, número de muertos, desaparecidos, cortes en carreteras, afecciones en los trenes y la última hora de las consecuencias de las lluvias hoy

www.abc.es

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853049240919957875

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853051122543435967

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853053428987023562

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853054391663653274

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853056989502341611

The Royal House confirmed that Felipe and Letizia will continue their visit to Valencia.

https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2024-11-03/felipe-vi-reina-letizia-tension-visita-valencia_3996164/

 

[Alondra]

People frustration and anger always target the highest institutional person in the land. Felipe has been very brave walking in the worst affected areas in Valencia knowing the reception wouldn't be friendly. He's doing what he needs to do, even if he is the target of people's anger.

Apparently the political visit has been cancelled but Felipe has not left. He is talking with people in Paiporta, the worst affected town in
Valencia, while security are doing their best to protect him.

He needs to do this. People can throw mud at him but he needs to stay put, take it and continue to talk to neighbours.

 

[tommy100]

Angry crowds confront Spanish king in flood-hit Valencia

Angry crowds shouted "murderer" at Felipe VI, who was also asked why nothing had been done to avoid the tragedy.

www.bbc.co.uk

The angry scenes have even made headlines in the UK

 

[Adda]

Absolute scenes from Spain:

President of Government about to be lynched (and fleeing)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853058372867641486

The people yelling "murderers" at Felipe and Letizia

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853052423679377461

 

[Alisa]

Currently on vacation in Jamaica and the horrible scenes and reactions of the angry crowds have made even the local news here.

People are rightfully angry and upset. I agree with the above sentiments that King Felipe needs to stay put provided he is SAFE. The people need to see him there in the trenches and visiting those affected by the disaster. When all is said and done and when the high emotions and tensions have cooled off it will be said "The King was there!"

 

[Somebody]

Angry crowds confront Spanish king in flood-hit Valencia

Angry crowds shouted "murderer" at Felipe VI, who was also asked why nothing had been done to avoid the tragedy.

www.bbc.co.uk

The angry scenes have even made headlines in the UK

Was picked up in the Netherlands as well.

Glad to read that both the king and queen do what they need to do and stay and talk to the most affected to hear from them what the impact is and what they need in this moment and the time to come.

 

[tommy100]

Very brave (but right) of them to stay and carry on. Whilst it is not always the case it is rare here in the UK for open anger to be directed at the royals on such visits. It is often why the government prefers the royals to visit before any government ministers as they are seen as not involved in the way government ministers obviously are. Interesting how things are different between countries, though this of course is a much larger tragedy than many recent ones in the UK.
I also read in numerous places that Felipe at least was accompanied by the Prime Minister and that much of the anger was aimed at him but obviously Felipe was caught up in it. Maybe going it alone without government ministers would help calm things down.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

The SRF have always been standing by their people in case of catastrophe, JC and Sofia have done it back in the days and Felipe and Letizia do it now. They do it very well with true empathy, it is expected of them that they see this through and in the end it will be very much appreciated. The Royal House is there to stay, in contrast to Sanchez, who fled the scene in a car, chased and heckled by a crowd.
But he will be long gone from office when these people are still struggling with the long term repercussions of this terrible event.

Tumulte in Valencia: Spanier bewerfen Königspaar mit Schlamm

Sie sind wütend und fühlen sich im Stich gelassen: In der krisengeschüttelten Region Valencia in Spanien wurde jetzt König Felipe VI., der die Stadt mit ...

www.bild.de

German BILD - Spaniards throw mud and stones at their Kings.

 

[Alison H]

It's brave of them to carry on. It's unfortunate that the anger is being directed at Felipe and Letizia, rather than at the politicians, but it's understandable that people are upset. It doesn't seem to have been handled very well by the authorities.

 

[lula]

Since they announced the visit of the King and Queen and that the President of the Government and the President of the Geralitat were going to accompany them, it was clear that the politicians were using the King to hide. They did not dare to visit the area alone and used the King and Queen to hide behind, putting them in danger because the attacks and insults were directed at the politicians.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853081094574272684

 

[Blog Real]

People are outraged, it is the biggest natural catastrophe that has happened in Spain since records have been recorded. But the revolt is not against the King, but against the government, but the King was involved and caught the revolt.
Spain has a great King who wanted to continue his visit while the Prime Minister fled.
Meanwhile, it has already been announced that the second part of the visit has been cancelled. But I think Felipe and Letizia are still there.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853083245023293742

 

[Chimene]

Leadership is not for the faint hearted. You have to have thick skin and you have to check your ego at the door. You need the courage in your beliefs when confronted with very tough raw human emotions and problems. Good for them for confronting the ire of the people head on.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

The Royals are absorbing the wrath that is directed to those responsible, the politicians, who dont have the guts to go there and accept the role of a punching ball. After the German desaster, the responsible minister for environment of the federal state went on her planned holiday, for 4 weeks. She had to resign later on but it shows the mindset of those who should face being responsible and be there for those affected.

 

[Elly C]

Leadership is not for the faint hearted. You have to have thick skin and you have to check your ego at the door. You need the courage in your beliefs when confronted with very tough raw human emotions and problems. Good for them for confronting the ire of the people head on.

So very true. How the King and Queen continue to respond to the situation will be vital in the coming days and weeks . It’s one of the rare situations where people look to royals as the head of state to demonstrate leadership and compassion. Prime ministers come and go, but the monarch has to be able to endure whatever the changing moods and inclinations of the people. It strikes me from the footage of their visit so far that their response goes beyond duty but rather they are reaching out with compassion. I hope they will continue to take the difficult path and involve themselves in the terrible tragedy that has afflicted their people.