British Queen urges caring for the needy

LONDON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- British Queen Elizabeth II called on her people on Tuesday to take care of the vulnerable of the society and praised the positive value of a happy family.

In her 50th televised Christmas Day message, the 81-year old Queen said, "One of the features of growing old is the heightened awareness of change."

"To remember what happened 50 years ago means that it is possible to appreciate what has changed in the meantime," she said." It also makes you aware of what remains constant."

"In my experience, the positive value of a happy family is one of the factors of human existence that has not changed," she said.

She also stressed the importance of caring for "outsiders" who find themselves on "the edge of society."

"All the great religious teachings of the world press home the message that everyone has a responsibility to care for the vulnerable," she said.

The Queen, who is head of the armed forces, paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Britain's servicemen and women.

She ended with the words "I want to wish you all a blessed Christmas."

The Queen was dressed in Kelly and Pordum apricot silk dress with scattered bronze beading and a gold brooch with ruby scarabs and diamonds.

In the 1957 live televised broadcast from her desk at Sandringham, she said she hoped the new medium would make her message more personal and direct. It is a tradition began on the radio in 1932 by George V.

The Queen has also launched her own channel on video-sharing website YouTube, which opened last Saturday and features the message.