Kylie Minogue has already been crowned the princess of pop, now she has been honoured for a "lifetime of music making" with a prestigious OBE from Prince Charles.

Minogue was at Buckingham Palace last night receiving her OBE (Order of the British Empire), capping off a remarkable two decades of success in the music industry for the 40-year-old singer.

VIDEO: Kylie gets her gong

The former Neighbours star was honoured for her services to the music industry during an investiture ceremony for about 100 people, including police officers, defence personnel and teachers, inside the palace's grand ballroom.

Wearing a white satin long-sleeved dress with colourful sequinned stars and gold stilettos, the diminutive singer curtseyed before Prince Charles presented her OBE.

After a quick chat with the prince, she curtseyed again and walked away, beaming at proud parents Carol and Ron and sister Dannii, who were sitting in the audience.

Taking her own seat in the ballroom to watch other honours being awarded, Minogue thrilled a young boy by talking to him while five other little girls looked on enviously, hoping for smile from the celebrity.

I should be so lucky

Minogue, whose hits include I Should Be So Lucky, Shocked and Spinning Around, joins a select group of Australians to receive OBEs including artist Sir William Dobell, tennis champion John Newcombe and aviatrix Nancy Bird-Walton.

Her OBE comes after she collected France's highest cultural honour, the Order of Arts and Letters, in May this year and a Centenary Medal from Australia's governor general for "outstanding contribution to the music industry" in 2003.

Also sitting on her trophy shelf are a handful of Brit Awards, a Grammy, and several ARIAs and Logies.

Dubbed the "singing budgie" early in her career, Minogue shot to the top of the Australian music charts in 1987 with her single Locomotion.

Soon after she moved to London, where she quickly found fame and fortune by teaming up with hit producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman.

Hotpants and heartbreak

During her career Minogue has released nine studio albums, 43 singles and sold out six world tours and launched her own perfume, lingerie line and homewares collection.

But amid all her success, Minogue has endured plenty of heartbreak.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and then split with her boyfriend of four years, French actor Olivier Martinez, early last year.

Photographs of the former couple dining in Paris last week reignited speculation that they had rekindled their relationship.

But in an interview published this week in Britain, Minogue said Martinez was nothing more than "a good friend".

Minogue also revealed she still hopes to be performing on stage in 20 years time, but minus her famous hotpants.

"A while ago I sang I Should Be So Lucky as a romantic torch song on (British TV show) Later... With Jools Holland," Minogue told Easy Living magazine.

"Jools accompanied me on the piano, and I can imagine working like that
.
"It's difficult to age with dignity in the pop business, but I'd like to think I've managed it so far."

Minogue is currently on the UK leg of her KylieX2008 concert tour.