A year after the devastating flood caused by Hurricane DANA, the royal couple arrived in Valencia. They led a state memorial service to honor the 237 victims of the disaster that struck the south of the region on October 29, 2024. The ceremony was held at the City of Arts and Sciences. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia appeared at the event after 5:30 p.m., following Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón. Before the moving and respectful ceremony began, the monarchs greeted officials and spent time with families who had lost loved ones.
For this somber occasion, both the king and queen chose restrained dark blue outfits. This color became a dignified and respectful alternative to traditional black, perfectly matching the tone of the event.
Queen Letizia opted for a formal look centered on a deep ink-blue shade. She wore a new midi-length, long-sleeved dress by Hugo Boss, which softly hugged her figure and featured gentle side draping at the hip. The absence of embellishments and the smooth fabric conveyed calm and restraint, making it ideal for such a solemn occasion. She finished her look with a matching MAGRIT clutch and pumps, as well as long sapphire earrings and a Coreterno ring. At her side, King Felipe wore a dark blue suit with a matching tie, emphasizing the institutional gravity of the ceremony.
This is not the first time the queen has chosen an all-blue outfit for such mourning events. For three years in a row, she also appeared in attire of this color palette at ceremonies commemorating the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, her choices included creations by fashion houses such as Carolina Herrera and Bottega Veneta.
Throughout the past year, Letizia has actively supported Valencian brands. Since the tragedy, she has repeatedly shown that she remembers the events of October 29, 2024. During her visit to Paiporta, just five days after the flood, the queen could not hold back her emotions while talking to those affected. She wept at the sight of the devastation and while listening to people’s difficult stories, sharing their pain as if it were her own.
Over these twelve months, she has often used fashion as a way to show that the tragedy has not been forgotten. At many official events, the queen made symbolic gestures toward Valencia by wearing clothing from stores owned by victims or accessories from local brands. This was a quiet but deeply meaningful way to express her closeness, support, and empathy with the Valencian people.
In this way, the queen drew attention to Valencian companies that had suffered from the aftermath of the natural disaster. Her gesture provided powerful support to businesses struggling to recover after being devastated by the hurricane. For instance, in November 2024, when presenting the Fine Arts Medals in Sevilla, Letizia wore a knit dress from Indi & Cold, which she bought at the multi-brand store Mía Moda in Algemesí, one of the worst-hit cities.
In December 2024, while presiding over an event in Madrid, she once again paid tribute to Valencia by wearing transparent drop-shaped earrings from Boira Glass. This brand, founded by Covadonga Ferrer, was also affected by the flooding. On December 9, at the funeral for the victims, Letizia observed strict mourning in a hybrid dress-coat purchased at Aloha Benetússer. The garment arrived in Madrid still covered in mud, as the store owners had no way to wash it. The queen cleaned it herself and even shortened the hem. Five months later, she wore this outfit again at a concert commemorating the victims of terrorism.
The earrings the queen wore at the state memorial are among her favorite pieces of jewelry. They are long, white gold earrings with sapphires and diamonds, which have been part of her collection since 2017. Since then, she has worn them on multiple occasions, including during her visit to South Korea in 2019. Interestingly, this piece was also borrowed by her daughter, Princess Leonor, for the Princess of Girona Awards ceremony in 2024.
