Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner have reportedly been left heartbroken after losing out on buying their dream home, the £45 million Edgcote Estate in Northamptonshire.
The singer, 54, is a known Jane Austen fan and had hoped to secure the property, which doubled as Netherfield, the home of Mr Bingley, in the BBC's iconic 1995 television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Horner, the former Red Bull Formula One team boss, was said to be even keener to acquire the estate, which would be an upgrade on Glebe House, the vast £9 million Oxfordshire property the couple already own a few miles down the road.
However, the couple's offer was trumped by a £52 million bid from one of Britain's most successful businesswomen. A source told The Sun: "Geri and Christian had their hearts set on Edgcote. Geri rode her horses on the gallops at the vast estate, which has its own racecourse."
The source added: "Christian even flew over the property in a helicopter, and the couple visited the tenant houses across the estate as they made their plans. But their dream move is over. They're heartbroken. Their celeb rival 'came from nowhere,' and her mega-offer blew them out of the water." The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Halliwell for comment.
Relocation plans and recent turmoil
The couple have experienced a turbulent few years after Horner was axed from his role at Red Bull last July following allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" made by a female colleague in 2024. Horner vehemently denied the accusations and was cleared of any wrongdoing by parent company Red Bull GmbH before being relieved of his duties last year.
Insiders told the Daily Mail that the situation has left the couple on a "sticky wicket", with some questioning whether the decision to relocate was a "make or break" move for their relationship.
Planning battle over Oxfordshire mansion
Earlier this year, Halliwell and Horner won a planning battle with neighbours after receiving approval to keep an "illegal" pergola at their £9.2 million mansion. The couple sparked local fury by constructing the oak-framed pergola and a gazebo in their garden without submitting planning applications.
Although retrospective planning permission was previously denied, a fresh application for the pergola was approved on the grounds of the Grade II listed home. The future of the gazebo remains unclear.
Neighbours claimed the couple were ruining the "tranquility" of their local Oxfordshire village and disrupting an unspoilt view of an adjacent church. Residents also stated they felt "trolled" after fairy lights were wrapped around the pergola, alleging the council treated the celebrity pair differently due to their status.
Local council planners said today they would be "sympathetic" to the star's wishes because of the pergola's "siting, scale and design", stating it was "compatible with the appearance, character, layout, scale and design of existing dwellings in the area." A planning official added that the proposal "would provide adequate standards of amenity and privacy" for neighbours.
The official explained: "The council heritage response confirms that the oak-framed pergola, when covered with planting such as wisteria, represents a traditional garden feature that can be sympathetic to the character of the site." While metal was "historically being more typical" for a pergola, officials deemed the wooden structure "capable of integrating into the setting without causing harm, provided it remains appropriately screened."
The pergola is visible over a towering garden wall circling the property, but council officials ruled it "would not impact key views nor alter the established relationship between the listed building and the church." The council concluded: "As the pergola would not be visible above the garden wall and does not introduce visually prominent or incongruous elements, the proposal is considered to preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area."
