In her annual Christmas message, Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second has paid tribute to those serving in her country's armed forces.

VOA: standard.2009.12.25

Peter Mandelson, the former European Union trade commissioner, and Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, both visited last year.

WSJ: U.K. Officials in China Expressed Early Concern About Death

It was widely believed the second official visit by Prince Charles to the republic was set to pave the way for Queen Elizabeth's first visit since partition.

BBC: Prince speaks of Irish 'suffering'