Geri Halliwell-Horner is currently in a state of jubilation as her husband, Christian Horner, has received a prestigious honor from King Charles ahead of Christmas. Christian Horner, the team principal of the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Honor and Ceremony

On December 18th, in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the 51-year-old Horner was appointed as a CBE in the civil division for his significant contributions to motorsport. Geri Halliwell-Horner took to Instagram to shout out this commemoration and shared a picture from the palace as her husband held the honor with pride. The couple looked their best for the occasion, with Halliwell-Horner donning her favorite white hue and Horner sporting a morning suit.In her caption, she expressed her pride, saying, "Today I had the honour of accompanying @christianhorner as he was made a Commander of the British Empire by his Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace. As a family, we are all incredibly proud of everything he has achieved in his 20 years @redbullracing and I know the Team feel the same. He is a leader, an innovator and a pathfinder and this distinction is a reflection of his dedication and services to motorsport. Congratulations!" She further added applause and heart emojis.

King Charles' Recognition

Horner was recognized in King Charles' 2024 New Year Honours list, which was released in December 2023. This is a significant honor bestowed by the sovereign to acknowledge outstanding individuals for their merit, service, or bravery. Honorees have the opportunity to accept their awards from the monarch or other members of the royal family during investiture ceremonies held throughout the year. On December 18th, the Red Bull Racing CEO was celebrated alongside Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan and his wife, producer Emma Thomas, at Buckingham Palace.During the ceremony, Horner told reporters that it was "humbling" to receive the recognition from the King. He also shared that they had a chat about F1. "Obviously a very proud moment to be awarded this CBE," he said. "It's very humbling." He added, "He was interested in how the season went, obviously followed some of the races. So it was good to catch up."

Previous Allegations and Royal Connections

Earlier this year, Horner was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behavior in an investigation by Red Bull Racing's parent company. He had previously denied any wrongdoing. The couple has had a long history of mingling with the royals. King Charles and Prince Harry famously met the Spice Girls at their concert in South Africa in 1997, and Horner has had many conversations with Prince Harry at F1 races around the world.Geri Halliwell-Horner also recently connected with Queen Camilla at The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition at Buckingham Palace on November 21. She said on social media that it was "a wonderful occasion and privilege to be a part of such an important and educational event."

Sporty and Royal Ties

The Horners aren't the only sporty and Spice Girl couple with ties to the royals. In a state banquet surprise, David and Victoria Beckham joined the royals at the diplomatic dinner honoring the incoming visit from the Amir of Qatar on December 3 at Buckingham Palace. The former England soccer captain backs King Charles' charity, The King's Foundation, as an ambassador, and both Beckhams hold OBEs from the royal family.Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!