Singer Adele awarded MBE at Palace

The singer won an Oscar for the Skyfall title song earlier this year

Singer Adele has been awarded an MBE for services to music by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.

The star became a worldwide phenomenon thanks to her debut album 19 and follow-up 21. Last year she won the best song Oscar for Skyfall.

The London-born singer came to public attention when she became the first winner of the Brits Critics' Choice Award in 2008.

The 25-year-old did not speak to the press as she attended the ceremony.

Prince Charles presented the singer with the honour

The singer has been at the centre of unprecedented commercial and critical success, in both the UK and US, with her first two albums.

She enjoyed the longest run ever by a woman at the top of the UK album charts - surpassing Madonna - and she became the first woman to have two singles and two albums in the UK top five at the same time.

In 2011, she underwent throat surgery having been forced to cancel a string of concerts, after health issues threatened to damage her vocal cords permanently.

She had a baby son last year with her partner Simon Konecki - the same year she won a record six Grammy awards in the US.

Earlier this year she performed at the Academy Awards, before accepting the trophy for best song.

Despite both her record-busting albums reportedly being inspired by unhappy relationships, she has since said she will never write another break-up record as she is "done being a bitter witch".