This is why Christian Horner’s wife has cancelled her birthday party

Queen Elizabeth II passed away last week at the age of 96.

Geri Horner, former Spice Girl and wife of Red Bull team principal, Christian, has cancelled her 50th birthday festivities out of respect for Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty passed away peacefully last Thursday following a short illness at the age of 96, having served as the Monarch for 70 years.

She attended the first-ever world championship Formula 1 race in Silverstone in 1950, and was a keen fan of motor racing and horse riding, among other sports.

The Queen died at her home in Balmoral, and her coffin was recently transported via Edinburgh to London, where she will lie in State in Westminster Hall for four days.

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A state funeral took place in London on Monday, with thousands of people flocking to Westminster Abbey to pay their respects.

Horner, who married Christian in 2015, released a heartfelt statement in honour of the Queen.

“Our Queen, kind, loving, strong, serving our country, the Commonwealth, uniting us all together,” she said.

“Always putting others before yourself, you’re truly inspirational, inside and out, we thank you…we love you.”

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At the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, a minute’s silence was held in the pit lane before the start of the first practice session, and again ahead of the race on Sunday.

Christian delivered an emotional sentiment of his own ahead of the weekend.

“The response just here in Monza this morning was extremely moving,” he told Sky Sports.

“Our thoughts go out obviously to her family as well, because they’ve lost a mother and a grandmother, and auntie, and it’s very, very sad.”

The 48-year-old then recalled meeting Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, where they spoke about the falling out between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix.

“She loved her horses obviously, and that was a real passion of hers,” explained Horner.

“That competitive spirit… I remember being invited to a lunch in Buckingham Palace by herself and Prince Phillip, and there was very few of us there.

“She’d obviously been well briefed, and she asked me – we sat down for lunch – she said, ‘so, what’s going on with your drivers, why don’t they get on?’

“And, she was just the most remarkable person, [she] immediately put you at ease and she had a sense of humour as well… she’ll be sorely, sorely missed, and [it’s] just tremendously sad.

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“Because, she’s been the stability for such a long period of time that it’s almost unimaginable to think of her not being there.

“She’s on every coin, every note, and it’s just a real shame.”

Max Verstappen went on to win in Monza, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell.