On Tuesday, November 21, K-pop stars Blackpink joined a number of British and South Korean dignitaries for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Jisoo, Lisa, Jennie, and Rosé dressed in stunning gowns for the evening, forming a power quartet as they walked through the hallways in their finery. While their looks did not match, they all had a thematic sweeping skirt effect with statement necklines.
King Charles offered a speech to the 170 guests gathered for the four course meal, including South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, Prince William and Kate Middleton. The King took the opportunity to mention the band’s work for environmental causes.
“It is especially inspiring to see Korea’s younger generation embrace the cause,” said Charles. “I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, better known collectively as Blackpink, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.’s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars.”
The following day, the group was honored at an Investiture at Buckingham Palace, making the group Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) in recognition “of the band’s role as COP26 Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow 2021.”
For the ceremony, they each wore skirt or pantsuits in shades of gray, white, and black. Charles once again made some formal comments, as well as joking with the band, “It’s amazing you’re still talking to each other after all these years. I hope I shall be able to see you perform live at some point.”
Blackpink actually made history in July 2023 performing at the BST Hyde Park Festival, becoming the first South Korean band to headline a major festival in the U.K.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.