King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was startled when a man breached royal protocol to approach him during a recent official outing in Ursem, North Holland.
The incident occurred as the King was greeting members of the public. Footage obtained by Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf showed Willem-Alexander raising his hands in surprise as the man got close. The man appeared distressed and indicated he needed help.
Royal protection officers were evaded by the man, who was subsequently escorted away by police. A spokesperson for the Dutch Government Service stated that the man wished to "convey his message to the king" and that there was "no question of an attack."
The King had a busy schedule, including a visit to Merseyside in the UK where he toured a shipyard and attended a reception. Meanwhile, Queen Maxima recently attended a DJ event with their daughter Princess Alexia in Amsterdam. The royal couple are also known to be art enthusiasts, having visited Dutch Design Week.