In 1996, five girls quite literally high-kicked onto the scene and changed the world with Girl Power.
Despite all the accolades and antics the five women got up to, Mel B - aka Scary Spice - fondly lists spending the day making sandwiches for the "charming and gorgeous" Prince William and Harry as one of the highlights.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Mel was asked her favourite Spice Girls moment. Sharing that it was a toss up between meeting Nelson Mandela, playing Wembley or "spending a day with Harry and William", the pop icon expanded on just what they got up to at Kensington Palace.
She shared, "They were young princes and we made them peanut butter and jam sandwiches in Kensington Palace. They were such cute kids - I can’t remember whether it was William or Harry who had a crush on Emma, but they were so polite and charming and gorgeous."
The Spice Girls and the royals - two iconic British institutions in their own right - have often crossed paths, with King Charles famously getting a cheeky pat on the bum by Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell Horner) back in the 1990s.
As each of the Spice Girls have continued to find success in other avenues - whether it’s Victoria Beckham and her fashion and philanthropy or Mel B and her advocacy and charity work - royal honours have followed, including reunions with the princes.
Mel explained, "The last time I saw Prince William it was when he was pinning my MBE to my chest in a dress Victoria had made for me, which was just a little bit revealing in exactly the place he pinned the medal to.
"Victoria knew exactly what she was doing when she designed it for me."
As well as fondly recalling the highs of the Spice Girls days, Mel touched on the lows - including the worst moment when Geri quit the band on her birthday.
"Finding out Geri had left us on May 29, 1998. It was on my birthday. We’ve all talked about it since, and I understand why, but at the time it was devastating because I just didn’t know why."
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Celebrating 30 years since the release of their debut single, Wannabe, it’s no surprise that Mel B is looking back - but she’s also in a place where she’s never been happier to live fully in the moment, embracing her 50s and a new pace of life.
Describing her perfect days now she’s older, Mel said "I consider great days to be me at home with my dogs and animals on my farm. Walking around my forest or feeding my goats, chickens and ducks is perfection for me. I love the simplicity and peace of it."
Still proving she’s got that rebellious, Girl Power spirit, she also rallied against the idea that hitting your 50s is a negative thing. "I’m bloody proud to be 51”, she declared.
"It’s just the beginning of a different chapter. I’m a firm believer that life gets better. With age comes experience and wisdom, and you care a lot less about what other people think."
