Harry and Meghan's public embrace (right) this week had strong echoes of the kiss shared between the Prince and Princess of Wales in June 1985 (left). Photos / Getty Images
Harry and Meghan's public embrace (right) this week had strong echoes of the kiss shared between the Prince and Princess of Wales in June 1985 (left). Photos / Getty Images
When Harry stormed to victory at the Sentebale Polo Cup this week, he celebrated his win with a congratulatory kiss from his new wife.
The tender clinch, captured on camera for all the world to see, was notable for being the first time they have publicly locked lips since their wedding in May.
But it also had strong echoes of another famous PDA, more than 30 years after Harry's parents puckered up at another charity polo match in Windsor - and the similarities haven't gone unnoticed by fans, reports Daily Mail.
In 1985, just nine months after Harry was born, a young Prince and Princess of Wales shared a kiss during the winners' presentation at a charity match in Windsor.
According to author and body language analyst Judi James, the couple's respective smooches provide a unique opportunity to "study the state of royal relationships".
She told MailOnline: "Windsor men like nothing better than strutting round in thigh-highs and white jeans to show off their alpha potential to their women on the polo field.
"This "reward" kiss comes during the trophy-giving ceremony and it gives us a chance to study the state of royal relationships during what are likely to be the only kissing PDAs outside the royal weddings."
Charles and Diana: Tension and distance
Prince Charles And Princess Diana kissing at Polo, 1985. Photo / Getty Images
"Charles didn't always fare as well as this with his polo kiss moments," says Judi.
"The breakdown of his marriage to Diana was pretty much announced in neon when Diana swerved her head at the moment of kiss [in India in 1992], leaving her husband's painfully pursed lips making contact with the side of her hair.
"There is a feeling in this pose that Diana was in distance-making mode though, as her torso is partially turned towards the cameras and also held upright, rather than leaning in to make it easier for her slightly shorter husband to make contact.
"Her chin is also tilted up slightly and the effect can be seen in the muscle tension in Charles's neck as he cranes his head out and upward to plant his kiss, which lands on Diana's lower lip rather than fully on her mouth.
"Diana is making him do most of the running here and we can see her cheeks rounded showing that she's smiling, either from fun or embarrassment.
"Charles has his hand firmly on the trophy here and Diana holds it with fingers splayed to suggest it's only half as important to her."
Harry and Meghan: Trust and synchronicity
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup. Photo / Getty Images
"The newlyweds stand with their torsos turned out towards the cameras and Meghan's only slightly angled towards Harry," says Judi.
"This should have made kissing comfortably a challenge but the mirroring between them creates some very relaxed and easy-going choreography for the couple, enabling them to lean their heads in to create a kiss that is both passionate and remarkably intimate.
"Unlike Charles and Diana the moment is all about the kiss for this royal couple rather than the trophy, which is held into shot but apparently forgotten, implying Harry sees his kiss as a bigger reward than the actual prize.
"The couple link their inner arms around one another in a balanced and equal way and their outer arms remain straight, implying confidence."
The newlyweds are known for shunning royal protocol by openly showing affection in public, and this week was no different. Photo / Getty Images
Judia adds: "There is no awkwardness with this kiss and their level of synchronicity suggests they are still in the stage known as passionate love, when you move alike and use subliminal mirroring without needing to think about it.
"Unlike Diana's upright pose Meghan has thrown her head back in a romantic signal of momentary submission so that Harry can lean his head down, hero-style, to plant his kiss on her lips.
"There is no sign of jokes or embarrassment here and the couple seem pleased to make up for the times recently when they have been far less tactile and more 'royal' on formal events.
"The way Meghan is baring her neck for the kiss implies trust. This neck-baring gesture was a feature of Diana's body language during her kiss on the balcony on her wedding day."
