Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. scooped the Best International Group award at the Brit Awards.
The biggest names from the world of music, from Stormzy to Sam Smith, descended on London's O2 Arena for the annual ceremony on Saturday night.
The band were awarded the coveted prize ahead of Blackpink, Drake & 21 Savage, First Aid Kit and Gabriels.
Guitarist Carlos O'Connell was the only band member at the star-studded event as the rest of the lads are on tour in Australia.
Taking to the stage to accept the gong, O'Connell told the audience the reason he is not on tour is because his partner, French actress Joséphine de La Baume, is about to give birth to a baby girl.
"I'm having my first kid in 10 days now," O'Connell said.
"My heart is fuller than ever, bringing life into this world and making sure that life is full of joy even though this world is hard and difficult."
He added: "I'm happy to be here to celebrate that and to celebrate friendship. They’re my best friends in the world."
The rest of the band sent a video message saying: "Thanks for voting us Best International Group. We sent our best man Carlos so we hope he's behaving himself."
Former One Direction star Harry Styles won all four awards he was nominated for and used his speeches to acknowledge his "privilege" and namecheck the female artists who were absent from the Best Artist category this year.
The event faced a backlash this year, its second with gender-neutral categories after the Best Artist list featured only male artists – Central Cee, Fred Again, George Ezra, Stormzy and Styles.
This was despite an increase in female artists or all-women groups across the board.
While on stage, Styles namechecked Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, Mabel, Florence + The Machine and Becky Hill – all female acts who might have been tapped for the award.
In an apparent reference to the online backlash to comments he made at the Grammys last weekend, he added that he was "very aware of my privilege up here tonight".
While accepting the Grammy for Best Album last Sunday, he said on-stage: "This doesn’t happen to people like me very often" prompting some to comment that artists from diverse backgrounds such as Beyoncé have faced more obstacles to success.
He also thanked his family and his former One Direction bandmates, saying: "I wouldn’t be here without you."
Styles claimed the gongs for Album of the Year, Song of the Year for the chart-topping As It Was, Artist of the Year and Best Pop/R&B act.
The last time an act secured four Brits in one year was in 2016 when Adele swept away the competition following the release of her album 25.
Indie rockers Wet Leg also followed up on their success at the Grammys last week, where they won two prizes, by claiming the gongs for Best New Artist and Best Group.
The Isle of Wight-formed band, comprised of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, are due to head out on tour as Styles’ opening act in the coming months.
Vocalist Teasdale appeared to poke fun at Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner’s acceptance speech at the 2014 ceremony by quoting it closely.
She said: "That rock and roll, hey. That rock and roll, it just won’t go away. It might hibernate for time to time, then sink back into the swamp."
Laughing, she then added: "But in seriousness thank you so much. This is so scary because being on the telly can be such a boys’ club thing" before thanking all the women involved in making their debut album.
Beyoncé also won two Brits – Best International Artist and Best International Song for her dancefloor-focused anthem Break My Soul.
The pop superstar was not present but in a video message said: "Thank you so much for this incredible recognition" before thanking her fans and adding: "The renaissance begins!"
This year, four genre categories were decided by the public via a vote on TikTok – Alternative Rock Act, Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act, Dance Act and Pop/R&B Act.
Alternative Rock Act went to The 1975 and Manchester rapper Aitch claimed the prize for Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act.
Aitch thanked the fans for voting, his team and his record label and added "not many" people from where he is from in the city win awards.
Vocalist Becky Hill, who has lent her voice to numerous top 10 dance-pop singles, won the Dance Act prize for a second consecutive year.
Tearfully, Hill said she was touched by the comments on being nominated and felt she was getting over her "imposter syndrome".
R&B girl group Flo were previously announced as the winners of the 2023 Rising Star award and were handed their gong on the red carpet by Jessie J, the recipient of the 2011 prize.
Source: Press Association
