In a special ceremony during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the United Kingdom, K-Pop sensation Blackpink received honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medals from King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The quartet – Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rose – engaged in conversation, laughter, and photo sessions with the British monarch during the presentation.
King Charles humorously remarked to 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.”
The MBEs were awarded to Blackpink in acknowledgment of their role as COP26 Advocates for the United Nations climate summit held in Glasgow in 2021. The band, known for making history by becoming the first K-pop group to headline a major UK music festival, performed at the BST Hyde Park summer festival in central London before a sold-out crowd of 65,000 in July.
Since their debut in 2016, Blackpink has achieved immense global success, setting records like becoming the most subscribed-to music artists on YouTube. The recognition from King Charles III reflects not only their musical accomplishments but also their advocacy for environmental causes at an international level.
