On November 21, King Charles hosted a state banquet in the UK to honor South Korean President Yoon’s visit, with K-pop duo BLACKPINK joining him. The following day, King Charles personally awarded each member the Honorary Order of the British Empire, the 5th Order of the Order of the British Empire.
Rose, Jenny, Jisoo, and Lisa, were awarded for their role as ambassadors for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, emphasized the importance of young people learning about environmental issues. The honours were given in recognition of Blackpink’s climate ethics. Honorary MBEs are traditionally bestowed on foreign diplomats who have made significant contributions in their respective fields, such as medicine, trade relations, and human rights.
In his speech at the state banquet, King Charles also mentioned their achievements, saying: “It is very heartening to see that the younger generation in South Korea is taking an interest in important causes. BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé will be serving as ambassadors for COP26, which is hosted by the United Kingdom, and as a member of the United Nations. As advocates for the SDGs, we commend them for their role in bringing messages about environmental issues to audiences around the world. They are global superstars who are prioritizing these important issues. I’m just impressed.”
Fashion wise, the pop unit opted for a more palace appropriate silhouettes wearing Dior jackets, midi-skirts, and nipped waists. Lisa wore a practical Asava dress and cape, while Jennie wore Chanel and Rosé wore Saint Laurent.
At the beginining, the band members marked the special occasion with their own take on regal fashion. Jisoo wore a black textured puff-sleeved dress from Christian Dior’s resort 2024 collection, while Rosé wore a strapless velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline. Jennie contrasted with a simple, elegant long-sleeved dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline and train, dressed up with a black platform sandal and a sparkly clutch. Lisa, the only band member to wear neutrals, opted for an aquamarine dress with a regal cape from Georges Hobeika, complemented by a metallic gold platform and a diamond necklace.
