Blackpink in your area! Well…if you’re in the United Kingdom, that is. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to London has birthed one of the most noteworthy international pop-culture crossovers in recent memory: K-Pop group Blackpink at Buckingham Palace.
Not since the Spice Girls palled around with Prince Charles in 1997 has a girl group of this magnitude visited with the now-King. Their contribution to Korean culture wasn’t lost on Charles, who shouted out the group in his address, much to their surprise. While he nodded to Korean contributions to British culture—including Squid Games, BTS, and Bong Joon-ho’s filmography—he lauded the K-Pop group for their environmentalism. “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,” he said.
The bandmates marked the momentous occasion with their own takes on regal fashion. Jisoo pulled a black, textured puff-sleeved dress from Christian Dior’s resort 2024 collection, which hails from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s ode to Frida Kahlo. Keeping the look in the family, Jisoo carried a Dior monogram top-handle purse as well. Rosé, who was seen chatting with King Charles after the dinner, wore a black strapless velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline, which she coordinated with a bow in her hair. She completed her classic look with a black pointed-toe pump.
Jennie contrasted with her bandmates in a sweet, bridal ensemble. The long-sleeved dress was simple, but elegant thanks to its off-the-shoulder neckline and train, which she dressed up with a black platform sandal and a sparkly clutch. Lisa, the only to venture out of neutrals, opted for an aquamarine dress with a regal, cape dress from Georges Hobeika. She accessorized the beaded tulle dress with a metallic gold platform and a diamond necklace.
We have to wonder though, what’s King Charles’s favorite Blackpink song? Our money is on “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du.”