Atlanta 12/29/2010 11:59:03 PM
News / People

Holland's Queen Beatrix has urged her subjects to show solidarity with others in society.

Speaking during her Christmas Day (25.12.10) speech, the monarch has called on the people of Holland to try to find a balance between "us" and "them" and said people need to help each other.

She urged people to involve each other in solving problems and stressed that the whole country belongs to a single society in which every individual needs to feel safe.

She said: "The danger exists that what we have in common is ignored while differences and contrasts are exaggerated.

"We should be ready to recognise our own prejudices and consider the consequences of our behaviour for others and for society as a whole. We should treat others the way we'd like them to treat us."

The queen's speech comes after she had to be rushed to safety during annual Memorial Day celebrations earlier this year.

The monarch - who was paying tribute to victims of World War II - was escorted to a side street on Amsterdam's Dam Square during the two minutes of silence after a 39-year-old man caused a public disturbance.

Footage of the incident shows the screaming man causing panic amongst the crowd, before a police fence falls over with a crash which sounded similar to a gun shot.

The Dutch royal eventually returned to the ceremony once the scuffle had broken up and laid a wreath at the city's central war monument.