I am glad to have settled this case in a favourable manner and am glad to close this chapter on an event which was unfortunate for all concerned

Dame Julie Andrews

However, she expressed her relief that the case had reached a conclusion.

"I am glad to have settled this case in a favourable manner and am glad to close this chapter on an event which was unfortunate for all concerned," Andrews said.

A spokeswoman for Mount Sinai hospital said she could not immediately comment on the settlement.

Determined

Dame Julie made her Broadway debut at the age of 19 and went on to star in several hit movie musicals - including Mary Poppins, for which she won an Oscar.

However, she went for the throat operation after experiencing voice problems while appearing in a Broadway revival of Victor/Victoria - a role she first played on screen.

Dame Julie as Felicity in Relative Values

Dame Julie's publicist Gene Schwam said the star had been left emotionally devastated by being unable to sing properly.

He added that Dame Julie nonetheless continued to strive to regain her previous award-winning form.

"She's still doing rehabilitative exercises," he said.

"She's continuing to do what she can under medical supervision to improve her condition."

Dame Julie has been working on other projects over the last three years.

These include turning her hand to writing children's books and taking on some more straight acting roles.

She recently starred in a movie version of Noel Coward's Relative Values with Colin Firth and Malcolm McDowell.

Next year she will appear in the film The Princess Diaries.