Kylie Minogue dazzled the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on Wednesday when she performed a surprise concert by royal appointment.

The pop princess sang three pared-down songs for Charles and Camilla at a St James's Palace reception to mark their Diamond Jubilee tour, which begins next month.

Ahead of the performance, Kylie tweeted "One is on one's way to St James's Palace" and posted a picture of a soldier on guard duty outside the historic building in central London.

Famous faces and dignitaries from the three nations the royal couple will be visiting - Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand - were invited to the event.

Among the 200 guests were comic Barry Humphries, soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, broadcaster and musician Rolf Harris, and former New Zealand rugby captain Sean Fitzpatrick.

But all eyes were on Kylie, who wore a stylish black evening dress and was joined on a stage by two backing singers a guitarist and pianist.

She 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.

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• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  A traditional Papua New Guinean drummer performs for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Maori dancers perform the traditional Haka for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue performs for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  The Duchess of Cornwall, meets Australian servicemen at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue performs for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles speaks with guests at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  The Duchess of Cornwall meets Rolf Harris and his wife Alwen Hughes at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles speaks with guests at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  The Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles throws an Australian rules football after being presented with it by former Australian rules footballer, Tony Woods at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles is greeted with a traditional Maori hongi by Bruce Simpson from the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Maori dancers perform the traditional Haka for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  Prince Charles holds an Australian rules football after being presented with it by former Australian rules footballer, Tony Woods (left), at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

• Diamond Jubilee tour reception

  The Duchess of Cornwall meets Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue (right) at St James's Palace in central London, during a reception for prominent Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders living in the UK ahead of their tour Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

Before singing the Locomotion, she told her audience: "The big question is, are you ready to swing your hips now?"
She then told Charles and Camilla: "Bon voyage, have a fantastic trip."

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• 'The Loco-Motion' (1987)

• 'I Should Be So Lucky' (1987)

• 'Hand On Your Heart' (1989)

• 'Better The Devil You Know' (1990)

• 'Step Back In Time' (1991)

• 'Confide In Me' (1994)

• 'Spinning Around' (2000)

• 'Your Disco Needs You' (2001)

• 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' (2002)

• 'Come Into My World' (2002)

• 'Slow' (2003)

• '2 Hearts' (2007)

• 'All I See' (2008)

• 'All The Lovers' (2010)

• 'Get Outta My Way' (2010)