Kate dazzles in tiara at palace banquet with South Korean pop stars as The King gives cheeky nod to Gangnam Style hit
THE King gave a nod to hit Gangnam Style last night — as the Queen and Princess of Wales dazzled in tiaras at a palace banquet featuring South Korean pop stars.
Charles, 75, raised a diplomatic chuckle from guests when he delivered a joke about the 2012 global smash by Psy to 117 VIPs in the Buckingham Palace ballroom.
He said: “Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the Gangnam Style.”
The royals were rolling out the red carpet for the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, and First Lady Kim Keon-hee on their State Visit.
Prince William and Princess Kate shared a tender moment as they wrapped their arms around each other’s backs as they walked through Buckingham Palace’s Picture Gallery.
And the Princess of Wales — who earlier wore a £3,000 red cape and a pair of Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond oval drop earrings at Horse Guards Parade for the ceremonial welcome — stunned the palace ballroom in the Strathmore Rose Tiara.
It has not been worn by a member of the Royal Family for about 70 years.
The King’s grandmother used to wear it in the 1930s, but less so after she became Queen in 1936 and never again after becoming Queen Mother in 1952.
Kate wore a white floor-length dress by Jenny Packham, while William wore white tie and four medals, with his Order of the Garter Star and Order of the Thistle Star.
Kate also sparkled in earrings from the late Queen’s collection, the Royal Family Order sash and Grand Cross of the Victorian Order.
The Queen, 76, shone in the late Queen’s ruby and diamond Burmese Ruby Tiara, matching necklace and earrings.
Wearing a red velvet dress, she sat beside the King at the top table, before they dined on pheasant.
The King wore his Grand Order of Mugunghwa sash, star and badge — which was presented by the Korean president when they swapped gifts over lunch.
He also wore the Garter Star and the Thistle Star, which used to belong to the Queen Mother.
Diners last night included new Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, South Korean female footie star Cho So-hyun and four-piece K-Pop group Blackpink, dubbed the “biggest girl band on the globe”.
The King, who visited Korea in 1993, said: “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.
“I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars.”
In his address, the King also spoke briefly in Korean and compared the success of Britain’s James Bond and Beatles to Korea’s Squid Game TV show and K-Pop boyband BTS.
Speaking of the more than 1,000 Brits who died in the Korean War in the 1950s, he added: “All those who fought for the survival of your fledgling republic are in admiration of what your country has become.”
The banquet was more relaxed than the King and president’s earlier lunch, which was interrupted by a flurry of activity as it emerged North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un had launched a satellite.
And Princess Kate joked to Korea’s foreign minister Park Jin that she and William would book a karaoke session together on a future visit.
The King’s Guards at Buckingham Palace will today swap their military tunes to play Gangnam Style during Changing of the Guard.
PRINCESS IS RED HOT
KATE bared more than usual yesterday — and looked fab, writes Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale.
She teamed a Catherine Walker coat with Gianvito Rossi heels and a Jane Taylor hat.