Mel B reveals she had to persuade a bishop and vicar to let her marry her fiancé Rory McPhee in St Paul’s cathedral by detailing her two previous disastrous marriages.
The Spice Girl, 48, told how she had to explain why she wanted to marry again after her other marriages to Jimmy Gulzar and Stephen Belafonte didn’t work out.
Mel was married to Jimmy, 55, from 1998 to 2000 and the couple welcomed daughter Phoenix Chi, 25, while they were together.
The singer claimed that she left Jimmy because she became depressed over the dancer’s lack of interest in her and any intimate relations.
Speaking to the Mirror about their divorce in 2017, Jimmy said: ‘I was said to be the bad guy – Gold Card Jimmy who couldn’t keep her satisfied. It was horrible, the power of celebrity. What good is cash when you’re emotionally dying?’
Mel B reveals she had to persuade a bishop and vicar to let her marry her fiance Rory (pictured) in St Paul’s cathedral by detailing her two previous disastrous marriages
The Spice Girl, 48, told how she had to explain why she wanted to marry again after her other marriages to Jimmy Gulzar and Stephen Belafonte didn’t work out
She later tied the knot with Stephen Belafonte, 48, in 2007, and they share daughter Madison, 12. Mel is also mother to Angel, 16.
Mel filed for divorce from Hollywood movie producer Stephen in March 2017, following allegations of abuse, which he has repeatedly denied.
Speaking to heat magazine, Mel revealed that she had to regale the story of her past marriages in order to seek approval from the clergyman and woman.
She said: ‘We walked around it [St Pauls] the other day, because we had to meet the bishop and the vicar. Because I’ve been married twice before, I had to explain why.
‘Why now and why in a church. I had to describe my first marriage, my second marriage, because she wanted to know what went wrong, and I was like, ‘Right well, let me tell you…’
‘By the end, [the bishop] was like “you are approved”. I don’t think she was meant to say it there and then, but it was nice. So we’ve got a few dates floating about for the end of this year and the start of next year.
Last week, Mel shared details of her and Rory’s royal wedding venue as they prepare to tie the knot.
She later tied the knot with Stephen Belafonte, 48, in 2007, and they share daughter Madison, 12. Mel is also mother to Angel, 16
Mel was married to Jimmy, 55, from 1998 to 2000 and the couple welcomed daughter Phoenix Chi, 25, while they were together (pictured Jimmy Gulzar)
Mel, who announced her engagement to Rory, 35, in November in 2022, recently hinted that the two have confirmed a wedding date.
In an interview with The Sun, she explained: ‘As I have an MBE I am allowed to marry at St Paul’s. They only do a small number of weddings a year so we are on the waiting list.’
‘Because I have been married twice before we talked about that. I was very open and honest. I take marriage seriously and am actually very traditional. I spoke about how I was married for ten very abusive years.’
Elsewhere, Mel claimed the Spice Girls – Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Geri Halliwell – are too ‘old’ to be walking down the aisle as her bridesmaids.
Mel and Rory have been dating since 2019 and, in 2021, Rory proposed with a £100,000 engagement ring.
One insider told the Sun hat Mel said ‘yes’ immediately, adding: ‘But it was incredibly emotional because after everything she has been through, it was a really big moment for her.’
Elsewhere, Mel claimed the Spice Girls – Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Geri Halliwell – are too ‘old’ to be walking down the aisle as her bridesmaids
In a recent interview with The Sun, she explained: ‘As I have an MBE I am allowed to marry at St Paul’s. They only do a small number of weddings a year so we are on the waiting list.’
Mel and the hairdresser have been dating since 2019 and, in 2021, Rory proposed with a £100,000 engagement ring
Mel has previously said: ‘Because I have an MBE I can get married at the same place Princess Diana married Charles. I’m still waiting to here back from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
‘We have put all our forms in and we are just waiting on them to give us the day.’
The chapel at St Paul’s Cathedral is reserved for exclusive use by those with an MBE or OBE. Mel received an MBE in 2022 for her services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
Mel has also also delighted fans by revealing that a certain Spice Girl would be designing her wedding dress.
‘Once I get the date, I will go wedding dress shopping. Victoria Beckham wants to make me a dress,’ she said.
Mel revealed that her fellow Spice Girls have given her fiancé the seal of approval and even cried at the news of their engagement .
The pair have known each other for many years, with them both being from Leeds and Rory being best friends with Mel’s cousin, Christian Cooke.
She and Rory are thought to have been reintroduced through friends in LA, including celebrity make-up artist Renee Camilleri.
Their relationship then became more serious when Mel returned to the UK for the Spice Girls reunion tour.
