Shortly after the King acknowledged the band during a prestigious state banquet, BLACKPINK was granted honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace. The four members—Roseanne Park (Rosé), Jennie Kim, Jisoo Kim, and Lalisa Manoban (Lisa)—were conferred the honors in a private ceremony attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Their support for the campaign highlighting climate change led to the UK government’s recommendation for these honors. In a private investiture held at Buckingham Palace’s 1844 Room, the women were honored. The military band of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards played BLACKPINK’s music during the changing of the guard, giving a special tribute to the visitors from Korea.
A video of BLACKPINK performing “DDU-DU DDU-DU” was captioned humorously by courtiers with a reference to Mean Girls. King Charles praised the band at the state banquet for their advocacy for environmental causes, acknowledging their role in spreading awareness on global platforms like the UK’s Presidency of COP 26 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Their efforts to educate the youth about these issues resulted in increased engagement with the Summit. Appointed as global Ambassadors for the UN Sustainable Development Goals by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, BLACKPINK has been actively involved in raising awareness.
King Charles, during his address, commended the band’s commitment to vital issues while maintaining their global stardom. He also playfully referenced South Korean pop culture, showcasing Korea’s significant impact on global entertainment.
The royal event, attended by Kate Middleton and Prince William, included ceremonial duties and acknowledgments, marking the mutual appreciation between the United Kingdom and South Korea’s cultural influence.
