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AT the grand old age of 70 most men are settling down and enjoying retirement, not knee deep in nappies after welcoming their EIGHTH child. 

But nothing about Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer’s life has ever followed a normal playbook – even up to his fourth wife demanding five weddings. 

He weathered three failed marriages – one was physically abusive, another sexless and the other ended after just 12 months – prior to falling for Virgin Atlantic air stewardess Kayte Walsh. 

The daughter of Bristol City footballer Alan Walsh and 24 years his junior, she tamed the “wild man of American comedy”, who had long battled drug and alcohol addiction.

She gave him the one thing he was missing – cosy domesticity – after endless family heartache including his sister being raped and murdered, two half brothers dying in a freak accident and his estranged dad being gunned down when he was just 13.

The couple already had a brood of three – Faith, 13, Gabriel, 10, and Auden James, eight – prior to Kelsey announcing “we’ve just had our fourth” on yesterday’s episode of Pod Meets World.

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New arrival Christopher, born on Friday, takes the actor’s baby tally to eight with four different mums.

And a source told the Mail he’s “thrilled to finally have time to fully enjoy being a father all over again… [and] embracing the hands-on parenting he missed in the past”.

There’s no doubt Kayte put an end to Kelsey’s turbulent years in the wilderness, which were plagued with tragedy, heartache and more faux pas than his pompous, gaffe-prone character Dr Frasier Crane.  

Yet their romance got off to a bumpy start – as the actor was still married to ex-Playboy pin-up and future Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Camille Meyer. 

Kelsey would later claim his third-wife only “married me because I was Frasier”. At his peak, he raked in more than £1million per episode for the show, which ran for 11 seasons. 

He also described their marriage, which spanned 14 years until 2011, as being “so broken” that they “had not had sex in a decade” and claimed she asked for a divorce the day of his mother’s funeral in 2008.

For a long time Kelsey knew the relationship was on the rocks, admitting it was “over as soon as it began” yet he stayed with her as a “self-imposed sentence”, mainly out of stubbornness and for the sake of their two children, Mason, 24, and Jude, 21.

He met Kayte in 2009 as she showed him to his seat on a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class flight from Los Angeles to London, where he was due to appear in a play.

She claimed it was “love at first sight” – dismissing the much-joked about claim of cabin crew being on the “lookout” for wealthy suitors – and noticed “this golden glow around him”. 

They chatted about music, England and life at the plane’s bar before he slipped her his number and told her the hotel he was staying at. 

Kayte was “blown away by how lovely he was” but uncertain and “indecisive” about whether to call him. 

She told the Mail: “I said, ‘God, if I’m meant to call him, I want a sign.’ I looked out the bus window and saw a sign reading, ‘Frasier Suites’. I was like, ‘OK, that’s not enough.’ 

I was her big brother, I was supposed to protect her – I could not. I have never gotten over it… It very nearly destroyed me

Kelsey Grammer

“Four minutes later, we passed an art store called Crane and a few moments later, we drove past the hotel where he was staying.”  

Secret mistress

Two days later they went for a coffee, where he confided he was “in a situation he wasn’t happy in and I needed to be patient”. She claimed they spent months only kissing and holding hands.

It wasn’t long before Camille discovered Kelsey’s mistress. Allegedly when she arrived at the couple’s New York apartment to be told by the doorman ‘Mrs Grammer’ was already inside.

Fire and fury followed. The former Playboy bunny claimed she was dumped by text, sniped about his bedroom skill and made another lurid claim he liked to dress in women’s clothes.

At the time Kelsey responded: “Never been a cross-dresser but I have been very sexually adventurous. I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done in the bedroom.” 

He considered the slings to be “pathetic” attempts to remain famous – yet as a “parting gift” to give her a new direction, he helped to secure her a spot on Real Housewives and even appeared in a single episode.

The couple married just 15 days after Kelsey’s £30million divorce from Camille was finalised in February 2011. It followed a stern demand before Kayte accepted his proposal. 

She recalled: “Because he’s been married so many times before I said, ‘You have to marry me more times.’ I’m his fourth wife, so I said, ‘You have to marry me at least five times.’”

Lavish nuptials followed – the first was New York, followed by an Elvis officiated Viva Las Vegas do, another at their LA home and the final, an especially romantic service in Giverny, France.

The last was inspired by Kayte’s favourite artwork Monet’s Bridge Over a Pond of Lilies. He took her to the bridge the painter used, got down on one knee and proposed.  

She recalled: “It was a complete shock. Kelsey had arranged everything with the Mayor so we got to say our vows in French. It was lovely.”

Serial killer slayed sister

The romance with Kayte has undoubtedly given Kelsey the peace and stability he has lacked throughout his turbulent life.

He was born to parents Sally, a dancer, and Allen, a coffee shop owner, in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, but raised in New Jersey by his mum after they divorced when he was two.

At the age of 12, his grandad died of cancer and the following year his estranged dad was murdered during a wave of racial violence after Martin Luther King’s assassination in 1968. 

Seven years later, his younger sister Karen, 18, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by serial killer Freddie Glenn, who killed three women.

Glenn, now 68, who Kelsey remarkably forgave many later years, was sentenced to die in the gas chamber only for the death penalty to be scrapped.

“I was her big brother, I was supposed to protect her – I could not,” he said at the murderer’s 2009 parole hearing. “I have never gotten over it… It very nearly destroyed me.”

And just five years after losing Karen, two of his half-brothers were killed in a freak scuba diving accident. 

Unsurprisingly, that amount of trauma caused unbridled chaos in his personal life – with him stating they were “the catalyst that got me into a really big problem for at least the next 15 years”.

‘Chaos, insanity, mayhem’

He consistently battled cocaine and alcohol abuse – especially while filming Frasier and Cheers – and was known for being difficult to work with, one colleague described him as “one of the biggest jerks” he had ever met.

Kelsey was described as “oozing” onto set with “glazed over eyes, half asleep, going through whatever he was going through” yet when the director yelled ‘Action’, he was “pitch perfect”.

Because he’s been married so many times before I said, ‘You have to marry me more times’…You have to marry me at least five times

Kayte Grammer

He was regularly in trouble with the law too. Kelsey was charged at least four times for crimes including cocaine possession, drink driving and violating parole conditions.

The crimes, which spanned 1988 to 1996, resulted in 30 days jail time, more than 300 hours of community service, 90-day house arrest, fines in the thousands and a 30-day court mandated rehab stint. 

His relationships weren’t going well either. Kelsey’s first marriage to dance instructor Doreen Alderman lasted eight years until 1990, despite their relationship being over after less than 12 months. They share a daughter Spencer. 

Two years later Kelsey had a second child, Greer, who later appeared on MTV show Awkward, with make-up stylist Barrie Buckner.

He married former stripper Leigh-Anne Csuhany, who was three months pregnant, seven months after that. But their romance wouldn’t last. 

Kelsey filed for an annulment and evicted her from his home, alleging she was physically abusive to him. 

He claimed she once fired a gun at him and even on their wedding day, he was seen sporting a black eye from one of her violent attacks. 

In his autobiography, Kelsey claimed she convinced him he was “nothing, unattractive, untalented, undeserving of love and incapable of being loved by anyone but her” to ensure he would never leave. 

“She’d spit in my face, slap me, punch me, kick me, break glasses over my head, break windows, tear up pictures of my loved ones, threaten to kill me or herself,” he wrote. 

Shortly after the split, Leigh-Anne tried to kill herself. She suffered a miscarriage. 

Kelsey had a string of short-lived flings after, including with Playboy model Tammi Alexander, before his third marriage to fellow top-shelf mag pin-up Camille.  

Five weddings

Ultimately, it has been with Kayte where he has finally found happiness. But that contentment could have easily been derailed due to the tragedies they have faced as a couple.

Two of their pregnancies ended in miscarriage and Faith’s unborn sibling died in utero. Heartbreakingly, this often requires a mum to undergo labour to birth the deceased child.

Kayte admitted it was “devastating” for them but the blows further strengthened their relationship. Each baby has reminded them “life is a miracle” and to count their blessings.  

There was the other part of me that wanted to surrender to it and go, ‘Let it mess you up a little bit. Let it hurt.

Kelsey Grammer

His ever expanding brood has also given him a second chance at parenting, after admitting he took his eye off the ball with the older kids.

He said: “I have neglected a couple of the kids in my life, especially the first two,” he said. “I’m trying to make up for a little of it now. I’m still their dad, so you can always have [a] chance to show up.”

With a stable, loving home Kelsey’s addiction issues appear to have been kept at bay – despite in 2016 admitting he stopped attending AA because he likes to “enjoy a drink”. 

It’s known he was sober for years after his 1996 car crash while under the influence, which resulted in him being sent to rehab by the courts.  

Previously, Kelsey’s calling toward “chaos, insanity, mayhem” was spurred on by “running away from uncomfortable feelings” and being unable to “forgive myself” for his sister’s death.

He acknowledges having “a self-destructive part of me” that encouraged his addiction, which worsened his health and contributed to a near-fatal heart attack in 2008.

Kelsey added: “I always had something in the back of my head saying, ‘Okay. That’s enough now. Cut it out. You know why you’re doing this.’

“But there was the other part of me that wanted to surrender to it and go, ‘Let it mess you up a little bit. Let it hurt.’”

But now thanks to Kayte, he lives a calmer life – when not changing nappies at 5am – and previously she said their “favourite place is our sofa”.

There they snuggle up, eat popcorn while watching films and eventually fall asleep in each other’s arms. It’s a far cry from the decades of debauchery before. 

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Kayte says: “As a general rule I try to operate from love. I always wanted to find a family and the love of my life. That was my dream. I feel blessed.”

No doubt Kelsey feels it’s he who has been blessed, after finding the woman who saved his life and drastically changed his future for the better. 

DISCREET and “not blatant”, with a stranger and with mandatory payment – those were the strict rules set by Lily Allen that allegedly allowed her husband of four years to cheat.

Now the scorned songstress, 40, has ferociously lifted the lid on the ‘arrangement’ with Stranger Things actor David Harbour in a song titled ‘Madeline’.

It’s the moniker she gave to costume designer and single mum Natalie Tippett, 34, who allegedly cheated with the American, 50, despite suggesting she had given him a ‘hall pass’ to sleep with sex workers.

Fuming in lyrics, which she says are a “mixture of fact and fiction”, Lily says: “We had an arrangement; Be discreet and don’t be blatant; And there had to be payment; It had to be with strangers; But you’re not a stranger, Madeline, Madeline, Madeline, Madeline.”

The track on her comeback album West End Girl, which documents the unravelling of her relationship and his supposed infidelity, has earned critical acclaim and has three songs in the Top 40. 

Unsurprisingly, it’s Lily’s anti-monogamy stance that has raised the eyebrows of listeners but these types of ‘arrangements’ are far from unusual in the world of celebrity.  

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Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings tells The Sun some are tempted due to working away for long periods of time and feeling unable to satisfy each other sexually or emotionally.

However, she cautions: “No matter how many boundaries or rules you put in place, what happens when it becomes more than just sex and your partner falls in love?” 

“There are so, so many obstacles with these types of relationships,” Jo tells us. “And it’s interesting that Lily had this very specific boundary.

“She set it because there would be very little danger of her husband falling in love with one of these girls or having an emotional relationship when it’s purely sexual and transactional.

“It sort of sounds modern, grown-up and pre-emptive, deciding you’re in an open relationship and acknowledging what’s going on rather than being ‘cheated on’ but it rarely works.

“There is nearly always one person who is secretly less comfortable with the idea than they say they are and there’s a big difference between ‘theoretical acceptance’ and actual acceptance.

“When the gossip starts and the press finds out, when it happens on repeat and the public starts to judge their relationship it can get really, really tough. 

“And some ‘open relationships’ are less genuine than one might think, some say they are in one to protect themselves. It can be deflective in a lot of cases.

“I think a lot of celebrities are pre-empting scrutiny and that way if their partner is seen snogging the face off someone at a bar, they are one step ahead of the game.”

As Jo highlights, Lily is far from the only celebrity to be stung after opening the sexual floodgates in her relationship – with many ending in divorce, as we reveal. 

Will & Jada Pinkett Smith

The aftermath of this ill-fated ‘arrangement’ resulted in the most explosive moment ever seen at the Oscars, which led to Will Smith being banned for 10 years and scrutinised across the globe. 

In 2022, the Fresh Prince star slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife of 28 years Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia, comparing her to a buzz-cut character from the film GI Jane.

Yet the origin of Will’s anger is said to have stemmed from the public ridicule and humiliation he suffered after Jada admitted to an affair two years previously. 

Describing it as an “entanglement”, she spoke of a fling with August Alsina, a rapper 21 years her junior, who was a friend of their son Jaden, during a separation from Will. 

Later Will apologised for his Oscars attack, stating: “I was gone. That was a rage that had been bottled [up] for a really long time… What I would say is that you just never know what somebody’s going through.” 

Rumours of the Smiths having an open marriage had circulated for more than a decade and even when Jada denied it in a 2013 Huffington Post interview, her cryptic response prompted more questions. 

She said: “I’ve always told Will, ‘You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.’”

Later Jada posted a lengthy rant on Facebook questioning if loving someone meant “owning them” and if it should “operate as enslavement”.

She concluded: “Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship…this means we have a GROWN one.”

Jo says for some celebrities being part of a ‘power couple’ can lead to more sexually flexible relationships, as it appeared to be with the Smiths, but it rarely works. 

She tells us for some it can be a “way of protecting themselves” ahead of an affair being discovered or a way to have “a feeling of control, by agreeing on the terms” of what can and can’t be done.

“It can be hard to fulfil your partner’s emotional and physical needs when you’re half way across the world and flings may seem like a ‘harmless release’,” Jo says.

“And it’s easy for celebrities to go into these agreements with good intentions but you cannot predict how you or your partner will feel when it happens. 

“There are so many opportunities in the chaos of celebrity life for boundaries to be overstepped and so almost inevitably it will go wrong at some point.

“Even if both partners feel they are on the same page and in 100 per cent agreement, most couples aren’t. One partner always wants it more than the other and the other may not be able to accept what happened.”

Michelle Visage & David Case

Former Strictly star Michelle Visage set sparks flying away from the stage when she claimed cheating makes her marriage “stronger” – but she’s not exactly thrilled by his flings.

She told the Origins With Cush Jumbo podcast that her actor hubby David Case experiences ‘compersion’, which is considered to be ‘the opposite of jealousy’.

It’s a term often used in the polyamorous community to describe a partner feeling joy that their romantic partner had an exciting experience with another person. 

“We live openly, so he would get off knowing that I was so happy and no matter what it is that I do, and I’m not just talking sexually,” Michelle said last year.

“Whatever it is, I don’t know if I have compersion in me to be really excited if he’s doing something with another woman but I know that it exists and he is 100% that.”

While Michelle claimed it was something that “works for us” and “what makes us stronger”, Jo says it can still be problematic.

She warns it’s risky when meddling with “the intimacy of a relationship” despite the couple claiming to be “fully transparent and trusting one another”. 

Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher

When Ghost actress Demi Moore shacked up with Ashton Kutcher, 21 years her junior, she wanted to “show him how great and fun I could be” – especially when it came to sex.

“I put him first, so when he expressed his fantasy of bringing a third person into our bed, I didn’t say no,” she admitted in her 2019 memoir Inside Out.

But her two ménages à trois, left Demi feeling “flooded with shame” and realising it was a “mistake”. Worse still, Ashton later told her it encouraged him to have affairs.

She claimed the That 70s Show actor told her the threesomes “blurred the lines” of their romance and “to some extent, justified what he’d done”.

It referred to at least three flings, including one on a San Diego stag do and another with a pal of her eldest daughter, that doomed their six-year marriage by November 2011. 

Jo says she sees issues like what happened with Demi and Ashton “a lot” in counselling – where one partner is “willing to please” because their partner “wants it so badly” and fears losing them.

“But it can have devastating consequences for the relationship,” she says. “Maybe not immediately but some struggle because they can’t unseen what they have seen or what their partner has done.

“Some aren’t even able to recall seeing their husband having sex with another woman, because it’s so brutal for them. Many prefer to turn blind eye, not see or not join in. 

“Even if they think they want it at the time, sometimes threesomes can be the last straw for a couple or for any agreed infidelity.”

Ethan Hawke & Ryan Shawhughes

Ethan Hawke’s marriage to Uma Thurman was marked by rumours of cheating, which he strenuously denied, yet after their 2003 split he made it clear he strongly believes in polyamory. 

After getting together with their former nanny Ryan Shawhughes, he argued that most people have “a childish view of monogamy and fidelity”, suggesting it as an outdated concept.

“To act all indignant, that your world has been rocked because your lover wasn’t faithful to you, is a little bit like acting rocked that your hair went grey,” Ethan told HuffPost in 2013.

It’s unclear how open the relationship with Ryan is but he encouraged speculation by stating “neither she nor I know what shape the future will come in” and justified extramarital flings. 

“Sexual fidelity can’t be the whole thing you hang your relationship on,” he added. “If you really love somebody you want them to grow, but you don’t get to define how that happens. They do.”

Shirley MacLaine & Steve Parker

Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine, who starred in Steel Magnolias and Terms of Endearment, had an open marriage for 28 years. 

It started back in 1954 due to her producer husband, Steve Parker, predominantly working in Japan while she was in America and she admitted “no one understood it” apart from them. 

She added: “I would say better to stay friends and we don’t have enough time to talk about the sexuality of all. I was very open about all of that and so was he.”

Despite declaring extra-marital flings “the basis for a long-lasting marriage”, the couple divorced in 1982 but remained friends.  

Jo says these types of arrangements can be more common among celebrities due to them maintaining long-distance relationships because of work projects, however it’s very risky. 

“While it may feel like a safety net, it can erode trust and intimacy and instead of enjoying the ‘freedom and liberation’ they anticipate, they can feel like they are being replaced.

“You can put in a world of boundaries and rules to but what happens when your partner falls in love with someone else? When it becomes more than just sex, you’re in trouble. Your relationship is effectively over.” 

Bella Thorne & Tana Mongeau

For just over a year, Dirty Sexy Money actress Bella Thorne celebrated her open relationship with musician Mod Sun and YouTuber Tana Mongeau in loving posts online .

In 2019, she told the Gay Times: “We joke around about poly[amorous], but we aren’t in the sense that we don’t put a word, a box or label too many things. It is what it is.”

Bella even claimed that she didn’t think anybody could “really understand the bonds” she shared with Mod and Tana, only for their three-way romance to end just months later.

It all came tumbling down after what Mod – real name Derek Smith – described as a “very, very public incident” that led him to end their “toxic” relationship.

Bella later slammed Tana on X – formerly Twitter – for breaking “girl code” after she was seen on a date with Mod. 

Tana later got engaged to boxer Jake Paul and had a legally non-binding wedding to the influencer-turned-fighter in late 2019.

They too had an open relationship but she revealed it heavily contributed to them splitting up because she felt compelled to “green-light everything” to make him happy, even though it was “killing” her.

Mo’Nique & Sidney Hicks

Precious actress Mo’Nique put an end to her open relationship with her husband and manager Sidney Hicks after fearing it would lead to them breaking up. 

She first spoke about them having hall passes to cheat back in 2010, claiming “I don’t want to be owned anymore… [or] have ownership over anyone”.

Declaring her “beautiful” open relationship “my idea”, Mo’Nique said: “If sex happens with another person, that’s not a deal breaker for us.

“That’s not something where we’ll have to say, ‘Oh God, we’ve got to go to divorce court because you cheated on me,’ because we don’t cheat.” 

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However by 2023, Mo’Nique, who had been with Sidney since she was 16, changed her tune saying she wanted monogamy. She said it was down to recognising the strength of their relationship and his love for her “at my worst”.

She added: “I didn’t want to sacrifice that just for a lay. So I grew out of that.”

FOR years, Victoria Beckham’s been branded the biggest spoilsport when it comes to a potential Spice Girls reunion – thanks to her refusal to ever sing on stage again.

But – following reports that it’s Geri Horner, not Victoria, who’s “dragging her heels” on plans to mark the girls’ 30th anniversary next year – a different picture is emerging. One which reveals a bigger “diva” hiding in plain sight.

Yes, all evidence suggests that Geri’s doing what she’s always done behind the scenes – vying to be top dog. And if she doesn’t get her way, she’ll simply do what she did before: quit. 

Speaking exclusively to the Sun, an insider tells us that whispers of Geri’s obstinance behind closed doors are nothing new. 

We’re told: “Although it’s always Victoria who gets the reputation for being a diva, it’s actually Geri.

“There’s always been that slight distance between her and the rest of them as she did leave them high and dry at the biggest point of their career during that world tour in 1998 [when she shocked the world and left the band at the height of their fame and fortune]. 

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“Obviously that was years and years ago and they’ve all moved on but the four others do have a slightly different bond. But Geri is quite selfish and will always put herself first to get what she wants and she likes to be the one in control making all the decisions.”

Earlier this week, The Sun revealed that Geri, Victoria and their fellow bandmates Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C have been involved in discussions ahead of the 30th anniversary of the release of their debut single Wannage next year.

According to sources: “A variety of projects are being talked about to mark the occasion, including a documentary and a possible tour or performance by the group.”

There’s also apparently hope of a biopic being made for Netflix by Orchid Pictures, which is headed by The Crown producer Suzanne Mackie.

But time is closing in on making a final decision – and Geri’s reportedly gone quiet, with insiders reporting she’s been “dragging her heels” for almost a year now. 

Our source says Geri’s reluctance stems from a number of factors: one, she’s always been in the driving seat when it comes to the Spice Girls – ever since they first got put together in 1994.

Long-time fans might remember that Geri often positioned herself as the creative force behind the band, and was known to butt heads with their management. 

She even infamously led the band’s coup against their then-manager Simon Fuller in 1997, firing him because he was too controlling.

They initially managed themselves in the aftermath – with Geri largely taking the reins – before subsequently taking on a different team to steer them forwards. 

As a result, Geri has long been considered to be the de facto leader – a crown she’s worn proudly. The fact that she’s not the instigator of these latest plans is therefore apparently causing discomfort for Ginger Spice.

Husband’s scandal

The other factor that seems to be waylaying her decision-making right now is the ongoing controversies surrounding her husband, Christian Horner. 

Racing legend Christian served as head of Red Bull for 20 years, but was let go as team principal in July following a slump in the team’s performance and amid reports of internal power struggles.

But the elephant in the room at his leaving-do was the fact that – just 12 months earlier – he’d been embroiled in a text scandal.

A female employee accused him of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour”, before an independent investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

In the aftermath, Christian denied all allegations – and Geri loyally stood by him. But the controversy inevitably played a part in Christian’s Red Bull exit, and – according to sources – it did a number on Geri, who felt understandably humiliated.

Granted, Christian’s rumoured £80million payout will have softened the blow, but being married to Christian has always carried a certain sense of pride and prestige for Geri.

Geri’s still embarrassed by all the Christian allegations, and feels she’s lost some of the power she had

Insider

So, seeing his name dragged through the mud will have undoubtedly done a number on her.

Our insider reveals: “Geri’s still embarrassed by all the Christian allegations, and feels she’s lost some of the power she had. 

“She now wants to be the one who plans all the 30th anniversary celebrations.” 

Cheeky spice

On the face of it, Geri’s undoubtedly transformed before our eyes over the past 30 years.

Back in 1994, she assumed the highest rank among her new bandmates thanks to her ballsy attitude and outspoken antics – and that was something she dialled up when they hit it big. 

Taking the title Ginger Spice with pride thanks to her box-dyed, flaming red hair, Geri earned a name for herself for being cheeky, headstrong, and loudly screaming “girl power!” to anyone who would listen.

The origins of that famous Spice Girls pop feminist slogan are debatable, but Geri’s certainly repeated it enough over the past three decades to claim a majority share in its inception. 

Back then, part of her calling card was being messy, cheeky and pushing boundaries, like the time she kissed Prince Charles on the cheek – and, rumour has it, pinched his bum at the premiere of The Spice Girls’ movie Spiceworld in 1997.

She later clarified: “I didn’t pinch Prince Charles’ bum, as reported. I patted it.” 

Meanwhile, her legendary Union Jack dress – which she boasted she’d made herself using a tea towel – became a lasting emblem of the band as a whole. As a result, Geri promulgated herself as the group’s mascot. 

When she left the Spice Girls in May 1998 – saying at the time it was due to “differences between us” – she inevitably sirened the beginning of the end for the band.

The girls continued as a foursome for another album, but while Geri’s solo career soared, they couldn’t quite match their previous success – which, one can only assume, will have fed her feelings of importance all the more. 

Over the years, feelings of bad blood softened – even as we learnt more and more about the in-fighting that had plagued the band, as it emerged that Geri and Mel B had often come to blows. 

In 2007, they reformed as a fivesome for the first time for their Return of the Spice Girls world tour, and Geri proudly flew the flag again – literally – in a Union Jack inspired outfit. 

She may have mellowed slightly, but she still upheld that cheeky Ginger Spice persona that had initially made her famous.

A triumphant performance at the Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2012 reunited them again – followed by a photocall at the London premiere for the Spice Girls’ inspired West End musical, Viva Forever! 

At the latter, Geri stood between her bandmates in a massive blue ballgown, again reminding us who was queen bee. 

Who’s Posh?

But – over time – as Victoria’s fashion career skyrocketed, it became more and more difficult to maintain the Spice Girls as a five-piece. 

Crucially, Victoria’s ambivalence to the band wasn’t sparked by any need for control; it was simply her coming to the inevitable conclusion that her talents lay elsewhere, and she gave them her blessing to continue regardless.

In the meantime, Geri’s metamorphosis continued. Over time – and especially after meeting Christian in 2013 – she dropped the cheeky, outspoken, ballsy act, and started becoming….well, just a little Posh. 

After she and Christian married in 2015, they settled in a country mansion in Oxfordshire, welcomed their son Monty, now eight (Geri’s also mum to Bluebell, 19, from a previous relationship), and duly became lord and lady of the manor.

In the process, Geri’s taken to wearing an all-white wardrobe, speaking in clipped vowels, and blushing at the memory of some of her more brassy stunts of the past.

When she and Mel B, Mel C and Emma reunited as a foursome for the Spice Girls’ second reunion tour in 2019, she directly addressed her twentysomething behaviour, saying she’d been a “brat” for leaving the band in 1998.

But – according to our source – while Geri may have softened on the outside, and now prefers cooking with her Aga and tending to her farm animals than causing a scene at showbiz events, she’s still just as headstrong as ever. 

She may not be about to pinch a monarch’s bum anytime soon, but she refuses to be sidelined. 

The others feel if Victoria is onboard, then they need to get it all sorted, and fear that Geri dragging her heels could cause Victoria to change her mind

Insider

So, now that she’s feeling on shaky ground as the group’s 30th anniversary approaches, we’re told she’s keeping her distance until they reassure her, in no uncertain terms, that she’s still de facto leader.

To that end, our insider says Geri kept a wide berth from the others when all five girls attended the premiere for Victoria’s new Netflix docuseries Victoria Beckham earlier this month.

Our source tells us: “Even at Victoria’s premiere, she kind of stayed away with Christian and his daughter, while Emma and Mel C mingled with everyone. Geri didn’t pose on the carpet with them. 

“When The Spice Girls first got together, it was Geri and Mel B making most of the decisions because they were the loudest, but they’ve all found their voices and the others feel if Victoria is onboard, then they need to get it all sorted, and fear that Geri dragging her heels could cause Victoria to change her mind. 

“But Geri likes to feel needed so will want them to be flattering her and giving her more control so that she agrees.” 

As rumours of in-fighting spread earlier this week, Geri took to Instagram, upholding her reinvention as the true Posh Spice by announcing she’d be appearing at The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Christmas Concert in December. 

She told fans she was “looking forward” to it – while making no mention of the big music milestone anniversary on the horizon. 

It seems the issue comes down to power: who wants it absolutely, and who’s willing to share.

Geri may have long trailblazed the world’s need for girl power, but she might just have been talking about one specific girl only: herself. 

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And if she doesn’t get that absolute power, she’s fully prepared to Stop right there, thank you very much.

Representatives for Geri Horner were approached for comment.