Geri Horner patted Prince Charles on the bum.

Geri Horner

Geri Horner

Although it was previously believed that Geri, 43, greeted the heir to the British throne with a pinch to his posterior when they met in 2007, Geri insisted she merely gave him a friendly pat.

She told The Times magazine: "Most people are much more relaxed than you think. I didn't pinch Prince Charles's bum, as was reported. I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we're all human. It was the premiere of our film, 'Spice World', in the late Nineties. There was a lot of nervous energy - young women, happy antics."

And Geri admitted that she was much more open and unguarded when she first found fame with the girlband 20 years ago.

She said: "When they're first in the spotlight, a person is untainted and a bit less guarded. Like Adele: she's so unairbrushed. After a few years, the things that come out of people's mouths tend to become more political, diplomatic, homogenised. Eventually, you come out the other side and think, you know what? I'm not perfect, but I'm all right."

Geri - who is married to Christian Horner and has a 10-year-old daughter Bluebell from a previously relationship - also praised the girl group for promoting inclusivity.

She said: "Human beings naturally want to be part of a community, a gang, a tribe. The essence of the Spice Girls was always 'we' rather than 'I'. You belonged."

Meanwhile, Geri confessed that she doesn't always know what she is doing when it comes to parenting.

She said: "A parent is just a shepherd. You don't own the child. One minute I think I've cracked it and the next my daughter, Bluebell, has moved on to a different stage. All I can do is be a good example; try to be an honest parent, to say sometimes I don't know."

However, Geri adores her daughter and revealed that Bluebell encourages her to take risks.

She said: "Sometimes you need a push to get over your pride. My daughter said I should do The Great Sport Relief Bake Off. I thought, 'Oh God, I'm going to humiliate myself on national TV. I was shocked when I won it."

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