Deta Hedman says receiving her OBE medal from Princess Anne was "mind-blowing".
The best female darts player in the world said she had a "right proper laugh" with the Princess Royal as she was formally appointed OBE.
Deta Hedman, from Witham in Essex, won the WDF Women's World Championship title in December.
The 66-year-old previously quit the sport because it clashed with her full-time work at Royal Mail, and later revealed that racist abuse played a part in her decision.
Hedman was appointed for services to darts and charity and received her OBE medal in a ceremony hosted by Princess Anne at St James's Palace in London on Thursday.
"She's so lovely. We were having a right proper laugh," said Hedman.
"She's a sportswoman herself. So, we were having a little chat. It just felt quite surreal, to be honest.
"It was a little bit mind-blowing."
Hedman was born in Jamaica and arrived in the UK in 1973.
She has competed in the sport since the 1980s and won her first WDF ranking title at the Finnish Open in 1989.
Hedman is also a five-time World Masters finalist, winning the event in 1994 and 2013.
The WDF has nicknamed her the Heart of Darts because of her charity work supporting children with disabilities.
"Most people don't believe that I do have a full-time job and play darts," she said, speaking to BBC Essex breakfast presenter Sonia Watson.
"It's just a hobby that I happen to be fairly good at and I enjoy very much. And if you enjoy something, you will excel at it."
Hedman hoped the women's game could continue to grow and she praised the effect that 19-year-old men's champion Luke Littler had on the sport.
"At the moment, darts is just having such a great revival and long may that continue and more girls get into it."
She fears that the prize money for women will never be the same as the men's.
"But it will catch up to a much better level where girls can say 'right, this is my career and I can make a good living'. But everything takes time."
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- Darts champion 'blubbered like a child' after win
- 'I'm a fighter. If people put me down I think: "In your face"'
- 'It just makes me stronger' - Hedman on racist abuse
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