The Queen, in her Christmas Broadcast, paid tribute yesterday to Britain's Armed Forces who helped topple Saddam Hussein.

With a military backdrop of armoured fighting vehicles, she spoke of her respect and admiration for servicemen and women.

Visiting Army barracks in Windsor, she was seen chatting to Iraq war veterans, including 19-year-old Trooper Christopher Finney who was awarded the George Cross for rescuing a wounded comrade.

It is the first time the Queen has recorded her annual Christmas message entirely on location, away from a royal residence.

The Queen said: "I had an opportunity recently at the barracks to meet some of those who played their part with such distinction in the Iraq operations.

"I was left with a deep sense of respect and admiration for their steadfast loyalty to each other and to our nation."

The troops, acting as disciplined teams in situations of acute stress and danger, had "brought great credit to themselves and to our country as a whole," she said.

"I think we all have very good reasons for feeling proud of their achievements."

* Yesterday morning, the Queen made her first public appearance since undergoing surgery on her knee and face when she attended a Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate at Sandringham, Norfolk.