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Meghan Markle wasn’t in attendance at the 2019 BRIT Awards – she was busy hosting her baby shower with her very famous girlfriends at a penthouse in New York City – but she was sure referenced at the British music event.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z won the Best International Group category for their album The Carters. When accepting the award, the couple channeled its biggest track Apes**t – a music video they filmed in the Louvre in front of iconic artworks, one being Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
In the pre-taped speech, the couple stood in front of a regal photo of the Duchess Of Sussex laden in pearls and wearing a tiara. “Thank you so much to the BRIT Awards for this incredible honour; you guys have always been so supportive. Everything is love,” Beyoncé said.
Well played @Beyonce & @S_C_ 😂
Watch The #BRITs 2019 live here: https://t.co/qj4KiENtGs pic.twitter.com/rGnmq0RUlr
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) February 20, 2019
The surprise nod to Royalty’s meaning raised multiple theories with some thinking the musicians were trying to say something political about black women, others citing the duo’s support for a vilified Markle and some even hilariously questioning how long Beyoncé made Markle sit there. Did she do it from New York? A FaceTime oil painting, perhaps?
“In honour of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas,” Beyoncé wrote on her Instagram, clearing up confusion. “Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy.”
The full list of BRIT Award winners in bold are listed below:
Outstanding contribution to music
Pink
British male
Sam Smith
Craig David
Aphex Twin
Giggs
George Ezra
British female
Florence + the Machine
Jorja Smith
Anne-Marie
Lily Allen
Jess Glynne
British video
Anne-Marie – 2002
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss
Clean Bandit – Solo (feat. Demi Lovato)
Dua Lipa – IDGAF
Jax Jones – Breathe (feat. Ina Wroldsen)
Jonas Blue – Rise (feat. Jack & Jack)
Liam Payne & Rita Ora – For You (Fifty Shades Freed)
Little Mix – Woman Like Me (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Rita Ora – Let You Love Me
Rudimental – These Days (feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen)
British single
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss
George Ezra – Shotgun
Rudimental – These Days (feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen)
Dua Lipa – IDGAF
Annie-Marie – 2002
Clean Bandit – Solo (feat. Demi Lovato)
Sigala & Paloma Faith – Lullaby
Ramz – Barking
Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
Tom Walker – Leave a Light On
British breakthrough
Mabel
Idles
Ella Mai
Tom Walker
Jorja Smith
British group
Arctic Monkeys
Gorillaz
The 1975
Little Mix
Years & Years
International group
The Carters
First Aid Kit
Brockhampton
Chic & Nile Rodgers
Twenty-One Pilots
British album
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
The 1975 – A Brief History of Online Relationships
Florence + the Machine – High as Hope
Anne-Marie – Speak Your Mind
George Ezra – Staying at Tamara’s
International male
Drake
Eminem
Kamasi Washington
Shawn Mendes
Travis Scott
International female
Cardi B
Camila Cabello
Christine and the Queens
Ariana Grande
Janelle Monáe
British producer
Calvin Harris
Critics’ choice
Sam Fender
Global success
Ed Sheeran