Christian Horner recalls Geri Halliwell breaking royal protocol during meeting with King Charles

Horner and the Spice Girls singer married in 2015 and have a son together.

Their first meeting came at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009, although they did not go on their first date until five years later.

Writing about a lunch together, Horner recalled how Geri’s relaxed manner stood out in company that included Queen drummer Roger Taylor and Stereophonics bassist Richard Jones.

“Geri immediately put everyone at ease,” he wrote.

“She teased Richard about why he had his name tattooed across his neck (‘I don’t know,’ he replied), and the conversation flowed effortlessly.

“She had a natural warmth and confidence, and she treated everyone the same, whether they were royalty or a road sweeper.

“It was entirely in keeping with the person who, in 1997, had hugged Nelson Mandela and, later that year, famously ignored royal protocol by patting Prince (later King) Charles on the backside at a Prince’s Trust gala.”

The incident became one of the most memorable moments from Geri’s time in the group, with reports suggesting she had pinched the then Prince of Wales.

She later insisted it had been a pat, telling The Times in 2016: “Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we’re all human.”

Horner and Geri’s connection led to dinner in 2014, when conversation proved so easy that the hours slipped away.

“On our first date, I remember being at dinner, looking at my watch and realising we’d been chatting for hours,” he wrote.

“At times, it had felt like we were the only people in the restaurant.

“When I walked Geri to her car, I noticed she had three different satnavs on the dashboard of her Lexus.

“The exterior was a war zone and from what I could tell, there wasn’t an undented panel on the body work. It looked like the Millennium Falcon.

“Despite working in Formula One, I was still naive to how the world of celebrity media worked. I hadn’t yet been exposed to the notoriety that Drive to Survive would bring.”

Their next chapter could involve Italy, with Horner leaving the door open to a Ferrari role.

Speaking to The Times in September, he identified Ferrari as the one team for which he would consider joining without an ownership stake.

“Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1.”

According to the Mail, Geri would consider relocating if an offer materialised, potentially splitting her time between Britain and Italy.

The couple have homes in London and Oxfordshire, but any Italian move remains conditional on Horner securing a position with Ferrari.