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.

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