The British Royal Family hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who arrived in England for a state visit.
The event was attended by personalities from the world of politics, culture and entertainment, and was marked by an exchange of praise between the two nations.
State Banquet for the President of South Korea
At the official reception for the President of South Korea, Kate Middleton wowed in an all red outfit with a cape coat and a huge bow in front.
Then she shocked everyone again by wearing a beautiful white dress and rescuing a historic tiara.
South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee wore a Chanel-inspired gown, while the other members of the British royal family, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Queen Camilla, also wore their tiaras and their best dresses.
King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II presided over the dinner, which was held in the Palace Ballroom.
King Charles and BlackPink
One of the more curious moments of the evening was the meeting between the King and the members of the K-pop group Blackpink.
The four members, Jisoo, Lisa, Jennie and Rosé, were among the 170 guests at the royal banquet.
They were even mentioned in the British monarch’s speech, in which he praised them for using their huge celebrity to advocate for environmental issues.
In his speech, he also mentioned Bong Joon-ho, the Oscar-winning director of the film “Parasites,” the record-breaking series “The Squid Game” on Netflix, and the most famous male K-pop group, BTS.
King Charles emphasized the importance of South Korean culture as a bridge between the two countries and expressed his admiration for their creativity and innovation.
Apparently, the members of Blackpink traveled to the UK specifically to attend the state banquet.
King Charles not only invited the members of the K-pop group to the gala dinner, but also held a special meeting with them where he presented each of them with an honorary medal of the Order of the British Empire.
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