It was a rollercoaster of emotions last November 22, 2023, in the K-pop world. But let’s take a look at what happened on the day of the YG group. Adding to the global K-pop girl group’s attendance at Buckingham Palace’s Korean State Banquet, BLACKPINK was also awarded MBE Honors from King Charles III. How surprising things have gone, right?! Let’s take a look at why the girl group was given the award, and how their fans reacted to this. It sure is a proud moment!
BLACKPINK Receives Special Honor At Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s speech which includes a special mention of the four women during the Korean State Banquet was enough to shock and flutter the girl group. However, it was more than just a shoutout. A few hours later, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa were awarded special honors from King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
The four women were invested with honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire, mostly known as MBE. The ceremony was given to BLACKPINK in a private investiture in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee were in attendance during the ceremony.
The King, joined by The President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea, has welcomed @BLACKPINK to Buckingham Palace, as they are awarded Honorary MBEs. 🎖️
The K-Pop band have been awarded the honours in recognition of their role as Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. pic.twitter.com/8xeD4zWP3J— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2023
- Why you may ask? The special honors were given from a UK government recommendation. The girl group has been vocal in supporting campaigns for climate change. In King Charles’ speech, he applauds the four women for sharing the message of environmental sustainability across the globe. BLACKPINK are Ambassadors for the U.K.’s Presidency of COP 26, and advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
- In regards to Rosé, according to Royal Central, she is not only awarded as an honorary member but a Realm national. This is for the reason that Roseanne was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia.
ROSEANNE PARK MBE receives the full MBE honor (not honorary).
The other member of blackpink are only honorary members, as is done with foreign citizens.
ROSÉ AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE#ROSÉ #로제 @BLACKPINK pic.twitter.com/MtugOXBFV4
— ROSÉ DAILY #1 (@rosedailyupdate) November 22, 2023
Of course, to welcome the group and honor this award, the Royal Family also posted a performance of the military band of BLACKPINK’s 2018 hit track. In the caption, they used the famous line from the Mean Girls movie, “On Wednesdays, we play Blackpink.” According to reports, it was the 1st Battalion of Welsh Guards who played the girl group’s song, DDU-DU DDU-DU.
BLINKs Show Their Immense Support and Pride For BP
With this massive honor, BLINKs couldn’t help but look up each of the members’ names online. Initially, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa had their Wikipedia pages updated with MBEs. However, in a recent update, it was only Roseanne whose name has an MBE.
- Rosé is the only member who receives the full MBE honor. According to information circulating, Roseanne is a Commonwealth Citizen with dual New Zealand citizenship.
the MBE is already added when you searched their name on google. omg this is so huge???? 😭 @BLACKPINK pic.twitter.com/oskXpWWg2X
— DARK SECRET👁️🗨️ (@LalisaTheAce) November 22, 2023
They deleted the MBE for other members, and only Rosé has the title there.
ROSEANNE PARK MBE
ROSÉ AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE#ROSÉ #로제 @BLACKPINK pic.twitter.com/LNPZvpUEvW— ROSÉ DAILY #1 (@rosedailyupdate) November 23, 2023
It’s inevitable how proud their fandom is for the recently invested special honor. It’s even more amazing to know how the BLACKPINK members are vocal in support of campaigns that would surely help the world become a better place. Aside from the Korean girl group, The Beatles and Adele also have received this honor, among others.
BLACKPINK not showing for months and then suddenly appears at Buckingham Palace to receive the MBE Honorary awarded by the King. What a group. Proud is understatement. pic.twitter.com/pGjPcgTFoI
— ℘ųཞ℘Ɩɛ Ɩơ۷ɛ (@_Itsme_Purple) November 22, 2023
歴史上この評価(大英帝国最優秀勲章(MBE))を受けた唯一のアーティスト、ビートルズ とアデルに、BLACKPINKが加わったの凄過ぎる
BLACKPINKにとってもBLINKにとっても、忘れられない日になったね🥹💕 pic.twitter.com/xCEuUe5wxW
— ㅎ (@ruby_kuku) November 22, 2023
🩷Look who’s in our area!🖤
찰스 3세 국왕은 기후변화에 대한 높이기 위해 영국과 협력하여 COP26에서 목소리를 높힌 @BLACKPINK 에게 MBE를 수여했습니다. 어제 BLACKPINK는 버킹엄궁에서 국빈 만찬에 참석했습니다
Rosé, Lisa, Jisoo & Jenny – 축하합니다!!@RoyalFamily @FCDOGovUK pic.twitter.com/6ZwiPeA8Fx
— UK in Korea🇬🇧🇰🇷 (@UKinKorea) November 22, 2023
We couldn’t be any prouder for BLACKPINK! We hope to hear more of their advocacies as they stay in the K-pop industry for more years. Cheers to a better world and a change. Congratulations, BLACKPINK!