Queen thanks British troops

LONDON, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II thanked her country's troops for their service during her Christmas message Tuesday.

The queen paid tribute to British troops at the close of a year that has so far seen 47 British military personnel killed in Iraq and 42 killed in Afghanistan, the Telegraph reported Tuesday.

Elizabeth also said in her speech, which was broadcast for the first time on Internet video sharing site YouTube, she believes every British citizen has a responsibility to help those who are vulnerable and excluded from society.

A Clarence House spokesman said Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are expected to join the queen and her husband, Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, for Christmas.