'Proud' Kylie given 25-year chart award

AUSTRALIAN pop princess Kylie Minogue picked up a special award to mark her 25 years in the charts and said she was just "hitting my stride".

The singer, celebrating a quarter of a century since her first single, accepted the gong at an awards ceremony in central London.

She said she was "thrilled and honoured" to be recognised at the 02 Silver Clef Awards in aid of music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins.

"It makes me proud, really proud," she said backstage. "I can definitely see with some distance what's gone well, what hasn't gone well, the journey that I've been on, what I've learnt."

The star said she was looking forward to being reunited with former Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan at a concert to celebrate the hits of Stock Aitken Waterman.

"I don't know what it's going to be like, I think it will be a laugh, it will be quite surreal for sure," she said.

Minogue said it was "hard" to express her gratitude to the music industry and added there was "more to come" from her.

She said: "I feel like I'm just hitting my stride. I'm lucky enough to still have different opportunities, new challenges".

David Munns, chairman of Nordoff Robbins, said Minogue was "an international treasure".

He said: "Her success across the music industry has been meteoric from the start and she is the obvious choice for our unique 25th Anniversary O2 Silver Clef Award."

The event also recognised stars including Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was given a lifetime achievement award, Jessie J, who was named Best British Act, and Michael Buble, who picked up the international prize.