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Spain

King Felipe and Queen Letizia include tribute to flood victims in royal Christmas card

The Christmas card of the King and Queen of Spain this year includes a tribute to all those killed in the torrential floods which devastated parts of the country earlier this year.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia have chosen a poem as their seasonal message in the card they will be sending out as 2024 comes to an end.

Over 200 people were killed when a weather system known as a DANA caused heavy rain and flash floods in October, sweeping away cars and homes. The region of Valencia was particularly badly hit.

The verse chosen by the King and Queen of Spain is by one of Valencia’s most famous poets, Francisco Brines. They have taken words from his work ”A Trace of Happiness” as their tribute to those who died.

The card bears an unseen photograph taken in June 2024 when King Felipe VI marked the tenth anniversary of his accession.

It shows the King and Queen of Spain with their two daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.

The personal greeting from the royals reads ”Merry Christmas and may we all face the New Year with greater confidence.”

The Spanish royal family has also shared the card sent this year by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. As they always do, they have chosen a nativity scene for their greeting. This year, it is a depiction of Mary and Joseph praying over the newborn Jesus, as shown in the altarpiece of the main chapel in Toledo Cathedral.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.