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Melanie Brown and Prince William.PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Melanie Brown is made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace

Say you’ll be there! In London on May 4, 2022,Prince Williamhonored Melanie Brown — a.k.a. Scary Spice — with an MBE,and even asked her if the Spice Girls were planning a reunion.

It’s not the first time the royal family has tried to spice up our lives again: the former girl group and the monarchy go way back, intertwined in recent pop culture history.

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Tim Graham Picture Library/AP

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03of 19Tim Graham/gettyAll you need is positivity: Halliwell sported quite the excited expression in May of 1997 while saying hello toPrince Charlesand standing next toJennifer Aniston.

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Tim Graham/getty

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 09: Prince Charles Meeting Geri Halliwell, Stephen Fry And Jeniffer Aniston. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

All you need is positivity: Halliwell sported quite the excited expression in May of 1997 while saying hello toPrince Charlesand standing next toJennifer Aniston.

04of 19John Stillwell/APThe women traveled to South Africa for a meeting withPrince Charlesand South Africa’s president, Nelson Mandela, in November of 1997.

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John Stillwell/AP

SPICING IT UP

The women traveled to South Africa for a meeting withPrince Charlesand South Africa’s president, Nelson Mandela, in November of 1997.

05of 19WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/GettyA youngPrince Harrycould hardly stop grinning while joining the band (and his father) in South Africa on Nov. 1, 1997.

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WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty

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A youngPrince Harrycould hardly stop grinning while joining the band (and his father) in South Africa on Nov. 1, 1997.

06of 19They just walked in and made Harry smile.

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The Prince Of Wales & Prince Harry Visit South Africa

They just walked in and made Harry smile.

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Chip HIRES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

Spice Girls in concert in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 01, 1997.

08of 19RexThe singers have even met the queen, greeting her at the Royal Command Performance at Victoria Palace Theatre in London on Dec. 1, 1997.

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Rex

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The singers have even met the queen, greeting her at the Royal Command Performance at Victoria Palace Theatre in London on Dec. 1, 1997.

09of 19Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles at Spice World premiere.John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via GettyPrinces Harry, William and Charles got all dressed up in late 1997 for the premiere ofSpiceworld: The Movieat London’s Leicester Square. At the event, Halliwell famously broke protocol and “patted"Prince Charles' bum, she laterrevealed toThe Times.“We’re all human,” she said. “There was a lot of nervous energy — young women, happy antics.” (Who do you think you are, Geri?!)

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Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles at Spice World premiere.John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty

The Prince of Wales arrives with the young princes Harry (far left) and William arrive for tonight’s (Monday) gala premiere of the film Spice - The Movie, starring the Spice Girls, at the Empire, Leicester Square

Princes Harry, William and Charles got all dressed up in late 1997 for the premiere ofSpiceworld: The Movieat London’s Leicester Square. At the event, Halliwell famously broke protocol and “patted"Prince Charles' bum, she laterrevealed toThe Times.“We’re all human,” she said. “There was a lot of nervous energy — young women, happy antics.” (Who do you think you are, Geri?!)

10of 19John Stillwell/gettyAt The Prince’s Trust Comedy Gala in October of 1998 — which unofficially markedPrince Charles' 50th birthday — Halliwell hung with Charles backstage.

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John Stillwell/getty

The Prince of Wales with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell on his arm with a card presented to him backstage, after the Prince’s Trust Comedy Gala at the Lyceum Theatre in London. (Photo by John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

At The Prince’s Trust Comedy Gala in October of 1998 — which unofficially markedPrince Charles' 50th birthday — Halliwell hung with Charles backstage.

11of 19Dave Hogan/GettyPrincesses Beatrice and Eugenie have rubbed elbows with the girl group, too: here, the tweens joined mom Sarah Ferguson backstage at a London concert in December of 1999.

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Dave Hogan/Getty

The Duchess of York, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, and the Spice Girls at Earls Court

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have rubbed elbows with the girl group, too: here, the tweens joined mom Sarah Ferguson backstage at a London concert in December of 1999.

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Anwar Hussein/WireImage

The Prince of Wales, right meets pop stars Ronan Keating, Victoria Beckham and her footballing husband David Beckham at the Princes Trust Capital FM Party in the Park 2000, London, July 9th, 2000. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)

13of 19Tim Graham/gettyBunton shook hands with Charles in the summer of 2001 at yet another concert for The Prince’s Trust in London.

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 08: Party In The Park Pop Concert [rock Concert] For The Prince’s Trust Charity Prince Charles Shaking Hands With Emma Bunton Of The Spice Girls. (Photo by Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images)

Bunton shook hands with Charles in the summer of 2001 at yet another concert for The Prince’s Trust in London.

14of 19Tim Graham/gettyAt Buckingham Palace in 2006, Bunton and Halliwell shared a laugh withPrince Charlesat a garden party celebrating The Prince’s Trust.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: (NO PUBLICATION IN UK MEDIA FOR 28 DAYS) Singers and former Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Geri Haliwell (R) present Prince Charles, Prince of Wales with a paintbrush at a Buckingham Palace Garden party held in honour of celebrity Ambassadors and staff of The Princes Trust on July 14, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images)

At Buckingham Palace in 2006, Bunton and Halliwell shared a laugh withPrince Charlesat a garden party celebrating The Prince’s Trust.

15of 19Brooks Kraft LLC/GettyDavid and Victoria Beckham were among the A-list guests atPrince WilliamandKate Middleton’s wedding in April of 2011.

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Brooks Kraft LLC/Getty

British soccer player David Beckham, left, and his wife, British fashion designer Victoria Beckham arrive at Westminster Abbey for the Royal Wedding in London. (Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)

David and Victoria Beckham were among the A-list guests atPrince WilliamandKate Middleton’s wedding in April of 2011.

16of 19PA Images/Sipa USASix years later,Prince Williampresented Beckham with her OBE during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the spring of 2017.

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PA Images/Sipa USA

Investitures at Buckingham Palace

Six years later,Prince Williampresented Beckham with her OBE during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the spring of 2017.

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WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Victoria Beckham and David Beckham attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales marries Ms. Meghan Markle in a service at St George’s Chapel inside the grounds of Windsor Castle. Among the guests were 2200 members of the public, the royal family and Ms. Markle’s Mother Doria Ragland. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The Beckhams were back on the guest list in May of 2018 asPrince HarryandMeghan Marklesaid “I do.”

18of 19jeff Spicer/GettyCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has mingled with members of the pop group, too, most recently with Halliwell in October of 2019 at a reception for the Queen’s Commonwealth essay competition winners at Buckingham Palace.

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jeff Spicer/Getty

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has mingled with members of the pop group, too, most recently with Halliwell in October of 2019 at a reception for the Queen’s Commonwealth essay competition winners at Buckingham Palace.

19of 19David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for alice + oliviaPrincess Beatricereunited with Mel C in May of 2022 at an alice + olivia store opening in London.So, is the friendship between the Spice Girls and the royals just a phase? Or will it be around forever? Our guess: It’s not the end.

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David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for alice + olivia

Melanie C aka Sporty Spice and Princess Beatrice of York attend a dinner to celebrate the new alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet store

Princess Beatricereunited with Mel C in May of 2022 at an alice + olivia store opening in London.

So, is the friendship between the Spice Girls and the royals just a phase? Or will it be around forever? Our guess: It’s not the end.

source: people.com