It’s that moment that symbolises the union of a husband and wife – but if you’re a royal the chances are you will share your first wedding kiss in front of a rather large crowd.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle delighted the crowd with their first kiss as they exited the church following their nuptials.
And while Harry and Meghan are almost certain to get the romantic gesture just right when they tie the knot on May 19, some other royal couples have had some difficult issues to contend with on the big day.
Take Kate Middleton and Prince William for example. Their famous balcony kiss took place at Buckingham Palace with bridesmaids Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace Van Cutsem and Lady Louise gathered around them.
It was a picture-perfect moment – apart from the fact that William’s adorable three-year-old goddaughter Grace stole the show with her very prominent scowl, covering her ears while the bride and groom shared their first public smooch.
It was a hilarious moment – and one that proves the difficulty of sharing a romantic moment under the spotlight.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana also shared a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in July 1981.
This time, not only were they surrounded by bridesmaids and pageboys but Her Majesty the Queen was just a metre away – decked head to toe in pale blue and with a string of pearls around her neck.
Diana wore a show-stopping dress by David and Elizabeth Emanuel for the occasion – a gown that will be remembered for decades.
Meanwhile, she and her new husband were joined by Lord Nicholas Windsor, Edward Van Cutsem, Sarah Jane Gaselee and Catherine Cameron on the balcony.
Sarah the Duchess of York was next to attempt the intimate manoeuvre with her new husband Prince Andrew in July 1986.
This time an adorable Prince William was the one to steal the show – pulling a funny face as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother stood behind him wearing a blue flowered gown.
Others joining the couple on the balcony were Sarah’s mother, Susan Barrantes, Peter Philips and best man Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.
Fast forward to May 2004 and the wedding of Australia’s very own Mary Donaldson to the Danish Crown Prince Frederik – and this time the pair appeared to enjoy a relaxed smooch in the spotlight, with the Prince seeming to pump his fist in delight.
The couple’s romance famously began in 2000 when Mary met the heir to one of Europe’s oldest monarchies over drinks at the Sydney Olympics, where he was with the Danish sailing team.
Finally, no list of memorable royal kisses would be complete without a mention of the awkward encounter between Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco as they left their wedding ceremony at the Prince’s Palace in July 2011.
According to French reports at the time, Princess Charlene of Monaco ‘tried to flee’ home to her native South Africa three times before her marriage to Prince Albert II.
Despite the doubters, Charlene, 40, and Albert, 60, remain together and celebrated the third birthday of their twins in December last year.
