BLACKPINK receives MBE honour from British monarchy in historic first for K-pop
The British monarchy has recognised the influential K-pop group BLACKPINK, awarding members Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé with the prestigious Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) honour.
The ceremony, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, was in honour of South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook, marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and South Korea.
BLACKPINK is the second girl group to officially visit Buckingham Palace after the Spice Girls in 1997. During the dinner, the then King Charles commended the group for their global influence in promoting environmental sustainability. He applauded their role as ambassadors for the UK’s Presidency of COP26 and supporters of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, despite their international superstar status.
The honour was bestowed upon BLACKPINK yesterday (November 22), marking the first time a K-pop group has received the MBE. Notable previous recipients of this honour include world-renowned artists such as The Beatles, Adele, Ed Sheeran and prominent figures from film and sports such as Jackie Chan, Anne Hathaway, Steven Gerrard, Marcus Rashford, Jimmy White, and Mark Williams.
The MBE is a British order of chivalry established by King George V on June 4, 1917. It recognises contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. The order has five classes: GBE, KBE or DBE, CBE, OBE, and MBE.
Previously, two Thais, Anand Panyarachun and Professor Dr Vitit Muntarbhorn, were awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE). The honour acknowledges those who have made notable contributions in various fields. Additionally, Ben Svasti Thomson, an Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom, was awarded the MBE last year, reported Sanook.
In related news, through a combination of inheritance, royal estates, and shrewd investing, King Charles III was left with a significant fortune to his name. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, left him an estimated £360 million when she passed away in September of last year, boosting his overall wealth to an estimated £600 million, as reported by The Times. Read more about this story HERE.
