Four hundred people went to the Valencia Cathedral this Monday to pay tribute to the more than 200 fatalities that DANA left in its wake on October 29. Relatives, neighbors and friends of the deceased who have been accompanied by the kings of Spain, in what has been his third visit to Valencia since the tragedy. After mass, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia They have walked down the central aisle to greet all the victims one by one and give them their condolences personally.
Accompanied by the clergy and the security force, the monarchs approached the attendees to convey their regret and solidarity. The queen, once again, has shown her most human and close face with all those affected, who took the opportunity to vent and tell her about their situation while she, saddened, grabbed their hands with affection and even offered them a hug. Such was her dedication that the king has had to back down on several occasions to encourage her to continue.
The Head of State, for his part, was the protagonist of the most spontaneous anecdotes of the afternoon, because despite the sadness and solemnity of the event, there were also a few minutes for laughter: “Thank you very much for coming to Valencia, Your Majesty, “We are in love with you,” a lady told him, awakening laughter from those present.
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia arrived at the cathedral shortly before seven in the afternoon and were received by Archbishop Monsignor Enrique Benavent of Valencia and a representation of the Chapter. They did so with a serious gesture and dressed completely in black, a sign of mourning that was also shared by the Virgin of the Forsaken, brought to the temple early this Monday with her purple cloak as a sign of sadness. Hundreds of citizens have received them with warm applause and shouts of “Long live the King!” have been heard.
Heat and closeness
This is the third visit of the Kings to Valencia after the tragedy. The first was on November 3, just four days after DANA passed. They went to Paiporta, one of the most affected areas, where they experienced a tense moment due to criticism from some neighbors for the management of the disaster. Later, on November 19, they visited the towns of Chiva, Utiel (Valencia) and Letur (Albacete), where they met with victims and rescue teams. Alone, the King was also on November 12 at the military bases where the armed forces involved in relief and reconstruction work operate.
In addition, the monarchs have dedicated themselves personally to the cause. Both have met on several occasions with organizations and committees to learn first-hand how aid was managed and what the needs of all those affected were. The queen, specifically, has also supported the small businesses affected by making their products visible (jewelry and textiles from Mía Moda, Sure, Singularu…) in her last official appearances.
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