Lorde has decided to postpone her Australian tour after doctors advised her to rest immediately.

Lorde, 17, said in a statement: “It breaks my heart to have to postpone these shows as the band and I absolutely love playing to Australian crowds, and it was not a decision we made lightly.

“I know I need to focus on getting better in order to perform at my best.

“We’ll be with you as soon as we can, Aussies.”

Lorde has decided to postpone her Australian tour after doctors advised her to rest immediately

The New Zealander singer, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, told her 1.5 million followers on Twitter that she had a “nasty chest infection and general ill health”.

Lorde also posted messages on the social network revealing her parents and team had told her to take a break after she worked “non-stop” in 2014.

“I just need time to get back to full gollum girl fitness before i go out playing shows again,” she added.

Lorde has been touring North and South America over the past few months and played at Coachella over the Easter weekend.

She was due to start her seven-date Australian tour in Melbourne on Thursday and said she expected to reschedule the gigs for November.

Lorde’s breakthrough hit Royals was number one on music charts around the world in 2013 and she won Grammys for song of the year and best pop solo performance in January.

Last month Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine broke the million sales mark.

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