Daughter of Tantalus in back with royal award (5)

I believe the answer is:

niobe

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'daughter of tantalus' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'in back with royal award' is the wordplay.
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'royal award' becomes 'obe' (Order of the British Empire. I am not sure about the 'royal' bit.).
'in' backwards is 'ni'.
'ni'+'obe'='NIOBE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for niobe that I've seen before include "Tearful female" , "figure of myth" , "Tantalus's daughter" , "Daughter of Tantalus, turned to rock" , "Greek woman cast in stone" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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