Come on Victoria, try to remember how to smile

With Victoria Beckham celebrating her 50th birthday last week, I was taken back to that heady day 26 years ago when, on assignment to interview the Spice Girls, I stood outside the Ritz in Madrid with several thousand delirious teenagers (“Spoi Gol, Spoi Gol!”), before hanging out with the famous five (pictured right).

Individually, Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell), Scary Spice (Mel Brown), Sporty Spice (Mel Chisholm), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton) and Posh Spice (Victoria Adams, soon to be Beckham) were not especially talented. (Mel C was the only one who could really sing). They were normal girls and their Girl Power mantra – a sort of feminism lite with platform soles and bumpinching – captured the imagination of a generation of girls.

Geri famously told The Spectator that Margaret Thatcher had been “the first Spice Girl”, although goodness knows what Prime Minister Spice would have made of the Wonderbra-tastic lyric “Chicas to the front!”

Time has smoothed their rough edges and Victoria’s bash at Oswald’s private members’ club saw the famous five reunited, despite relations not always having been cordial. They even lined up to mime along to their own appallingly catchy Stop.

Things between Geri and Mel B were said to be “frosty” because Mel, never the diplomat, had claimed Geri lies about her age.

Mel C, who has been admirably honest about the depression and eating disorder she suffered while still in the band, looked most at ease in her own skin. Emma also looked lit from within. You can see Mel B has had a rough old time after alleged domestic abuse.

The middle-aged Spices have clearly had work done and boobs have risen and fallen.

Strangely, the most upwardly mobile and successful of them – Geri and Victoria – look the least happy. Geri has been going through marital tensions while Victoria clearly took a vow two decades ago never to smile in public. Nor did the silly thing break it when David gave her a piggyback to the limo after the party. Such an adorable gesture from her husband (she broke her foot and couldn’t walk in heels), which should have had her in fits of giggles, not trying to look cool.

At 50, cool is overrated. Laughing at the passing years (Botox permitting), and having the best time with old mates is the thing. Victoria and Geri would probably veto it on grounds of taste and reputation, but I reckon a Spice Girls reunion would cheer up this drizzly country no end. A blast from the past: Menopausal Spice Women. Geri could even wriggle back into her trademark Union Jack dress. Now that I would pay to see. Chicas to the front!