Royal Send-Off: Pop Princess Sings For Charles

Kylie Minogue has told Sky News she was "honoured" to perform for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at a reception to mark their Diamond Jubilee tour.

The pop star was among 200 celebrities and dignitaries from Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand - the three nations the royal couple will be visiting - who were invited to the event.

Among the guests at St James' Palace were comic Barry Humphries, soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, broadcaster and musician Rolf Harris, and former New Zealand rugby captain Sean Fitzpatrick.

Minogue, who wore a stylish black evening dress and was joined on a stage by a guitarist and pianist, performed three songs for Charles and Camilla.

Before singing Locomotion, she told her audience: "The big question is, are you ready to swing your hips now?"

She then told the royals, who begin their tour next month: "Bon voyage, have a fantastic trip."

The 44-year-old Australian is celebrating 25 years as a singer and has released her 12th album in celebration - The Abbey Road Sessions.

It features 16 songs from her career, with new orchestral arrangements, recorded in the famous Abbey Road studios where The Beatles created their albums.

Minogue told Sky News: "It's been such a brilliant year to be in the UK and so to send the royals off on this trip it felt fitting to be part of the farewell for them.

"I was very honoured to be asked and happy I could put it in the schedule. It was really great."