FORMULA 1 boss Christian Horner put his hellish year behind him as he collected a CBE — with Spice Girl wife Geri by his side.
The Red Bull chief, 51, picked up the gong from King Charles yesterday for his services to motorsports.
Geri, 52, looked more Posh than Baby Spice in a netted veil and headband.
The award capped a rollercoaster year for the racing boss who was cleared after being accused of sending intimate texts to a colleague.
He said about meeting the King at the ceremony in Buckingham Palace: “He was charming.”
Horner was accused of sending the intimate late-night texts to the woman, in her 40s, who reported him to HR executives at the racing team.
It sparked a months-long internal misconduct probe which threatened to force Horner, who has led Red Bull since 2005, to leave in disgrace.
And it even put his marriage in jeopardy with the allegations leaving Geri “mortified and angry” at her husband of nine years.
An internal probe cleared Horner in February and his accuser’s appeal was thrown out in August, with Horner adding he was “relieved” to be in the clear.
Now he and Geri, who share a seven-year-old son, are said to be putting the furore behind them and moving on.
Last Friday the couple put on a smitten display during the FIA Awards in Kigali, Rwanda.
Horner has also mended the bridge with Max Verstappen’s dad Jos – who was said to be pushing for his sacking during the investigation.
CARABAO CUP draws are often known for throwing up some blockbuster ties – and the semi-final encounters will be no different!
Arsenal will be in the hat after Gabriel Jesus inspired a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
While Premier League leaders Liverpool overcame Southampton 2-1 to progress.
Newcastle defeated Brentford 3-1 with Sandro Tonali netting twice in the first half.
The final quarter-final before the big draw sees Manchester United travel to Tottenham.
Carabao Cup semi-final first leg matches are set to take place on Wednesday, January 8
While the second leg encounters are set to get underway on Wednesday, February 5.
Wednesday, December 18
Thursday, December 19
POLICE can seize more than £2million from toxic influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, a court has ruled.
The brothers failed to pay any tax on £21million in revenue from their online businesses — now held in seven frozen bank accounts.
After Devon and Cornwall’s civil case to seize the cash, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said the Tates “engaged in long-standing conduct to evade their tax” between 2014 and 2022.
They paid £9.45million to the account of a woman, referred to as J, Westminster magistrates court heard.
She had no role in their businesses including War Room, Hustlers University, Cobra Tate and OnlyFans.
Lawyers cited a video in court where Andrew said: “When living in England I refused to pay tax.”
Police can now seize £2,683,345.
Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, who grew up in Luton, are also facing human trafficking charges in Romania.
Cops are seeking their extradition to the UK for similar allegations here.
Andrew said: “This isn’t justice, it’s a co-ordinated attack on those who challenge the system.”
LUKE LITTLER accepted an invitation to the Premier League with an eight-word statement that didn’t age well at all.
Littler, 17 has taken the world of darts by storm ever since bursting on to the scene last year at the young age of 16.
The Nuke made it all the way to the 2024 World Championship final where he lost to Luke Humphries.
And upon being offered a place to the Premier League, the Warrington thrower gave the green light to his manager suggesting this may never happen again.
Littler issued an eight-word response to his rep and told him: “Let’s do it, it might not happen again.”
The teenage sensation looked back at that moment with great fondness.
Littler recalled: “It’s unbelievable, no more development tour this is it. Playing in the Premier League and comfortably in the [world’s top] 32.
“As soon as I came off the stage [after the World Championship final], did the media and saw the family, my manager pulled me aside and said, ‘Do you want to do it? ‘ I said, ‘Let’s do it, it might not happen again’.”
But the World Championships and Premier League was just the beginning for Littler.
The popular thrower topped the league phase and exacted revenge on Humphries in the final.
Littler went on to win the Grand Slam, which propelled him to fourth place in the world rankings.
And he is now the bookies’ favourite to win the World Darts Championship.
Littler would get the chance to exact revenge on Humphries if they make it to the semi-finals.
