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A surprise visit brings some Christmas cheer after disaster in Valencia

King Felipe and his family made an unexpected trip to one of the worst affected villages in October’s floods. 

The royals traveled to Catarroja, a village near the city of Valencia, on Sunday, 22nd December, and received a warm welcome from the locals. 

The King and Queen of Spain had already visited the area, with most people remembering the first visit, just a few days after the disaster, being marked by tension and raw suffering. 

However, for Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía this was the first time visiting the area affected by the weather phenomenon known as a Dana which led to the devastating floods, as the heir was in Marín undergoing her naval training, and her younger sister was in Wales for her last year at UWC Atlantic. 

Thankfully, this visit was a lot calmer, and the royals had a chance not only to stop and see how daily life is going for the local population after the disaster, but they also had a chance to support local businesses. 

The family of four was pictured with the entire staff of the restaurant they chose for their lunch. They had also previously posed for pictures with the staff and customers of the market they visited – one of the village’s most affected areas, but also one of the first to reopen for business. 

Many locals describe their surprise at seeing the four royals walking through the market, as the visit had not been announced in advance, and did not figure in the Royal Household’s diary. 

The owner of a restaurant told local newspaper ‘Levante’ that “It was unexpected, it took us all by surprise. They seemed very approachable, taking pictures with everyone for more than half an hour”. 

Many social media users, who posted about the encounter on their profiles, expressed their gratitude for the visit, with one caption reading: “Thank you for coming to Catarroja, because with your presence you make it so that they won’t forget us”. 

The visit seems to be part of an effort by the Royal Household to keep the areas affected by the floods in everyone’s minds, while also spending time with all sectors of society involved, from the local population to the military and first responders involved in the ongoing relief efforts, to those focussing on reconstruction. 

After that infamous first visit, King Felipe went back alone to meet with the military personnel that has been tasked with cleanup and rescue efforts. Then, on the 19th of November, the King and Queen went back to the area together – a visit that was uncertain until the very last minute, given the tension that had marked the previous one only 15 days earlier. 

Now that many are preparing for holidays that will be incredibly different, the royals wanted to being their voice, and some comfort in the knowledge that the locals, and all those affected, are not being forgotten.