Blackpink were named honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace earlier today. King Charles III bestowed the honor on the K-pop group due to the members’ commitment to raising awareness about climate change. The king specifically recognized Blackpink’s role as COP26 Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow 2021, where they encouraged millions of young people to engage with the United Nations climate change conference.
While Blackpink members Jennie, Jisoo, and Lisa received honorary MBEs, Rosé was given a traditional MBE, The Associated Press notes, because she has citizenship in New Zealand, where Charles is officially head of state.
Charles presented Blackpink with their medals at a ceremony attended by South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, and first lady, Kim Keon Hee, who are currently on a state visit to London.