Former Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell has developed a close and surprising friendship with Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III. According to reports cited by Richard Eden of the Daily Mail, the queen has become “closer and closer” to Halliwell, and one source said the singer has become “a sort of lady-in-waiting to the queen, and more than that.” The two are said to share an interest in horses.
Halliwell has long-standing ties to the royal family through her role as ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society, of which Camilla is patron. The pair met again in January at Maggie’s in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, for the 30th anniversary of the organization. Camilla ended the traditional royal role of ladies-in-waiting after Charles became king and replaced it with six aides known as “companions of the queen.”
The former pop star, who is herself a horse enthusiast, appeared on Tuesday at the opening day of Royal Ascot with her husband, Christian Horner. In November, she visited St James’s Palace for a reception marking The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, also run by the Royal Commonwealth Society, where she met the contest winners. Afterward, Halliwell called it “the best literary event and the best royal event of the year.”
Halliwell was appointed ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society in 2020 and said she has always believed in “breaking barriers.” She added that the essay competition gives young people a chance to express their views on the world and make their voices heard. Her connection with the royals dates back to 1997, when she first met then-Prince Charles at the Prince’s Trust gala with her Spice Girls bandmates. When she attended the same event again in 2023, Halliwell told HELLO! that Charles was “an inseparable part of the Spice Girls’ journey,” calling him “Spice Boy” and saying she admires everything he does.
