Lampard and Christine Bleakley confirm their relationship by kissing in public

They've been very careful not to be seen engaging in any public displays of affection, not even holding hands.

But Christine Bleakley and Frank Lampard threw caution to the wind today when they shared their very first public kiss.

The couple were snapped puckering up at a hotel in Sardinia where they have joined Jamie and Louise Redknapp on holiday.

If her status as Frank's girlfriend needed any more establishing, then this shot proves that Christine has more than secured her man.

The couple had a glass of wine and a spot of lunch at the plush resort on the island of Sardinia and were seen laughing and joking before they leaned in for a kiss.

Then it was off to meet the Redknapps, and judging by the warm greeting that Bleakley was given, she has been welcomed with open arms into the footballing family.

Frank, 32, is cousin to former Liverpool and Tottenham player Jamie Redknapp, 37, whose father is Harry, 63, Spurs's current boss.

Frank's father Frank Sr, 61, is Harry's brother-in-law, and was married to Harry's wife Sandra's sister Pat, who died aged 58 in April 2008 following a long battle with cancer.

They are a very close-knit family so it's good news for Christine that she has been accepted into the fold.

And it's just as well that she gets on with Louise as she may be in need of some female company.

If she's sick of hearing about football, then she may want to make a girlie escape with the former pop star.

Because being such a huge football family, no doubt Jamie and Frank may want to spend some time dissecting the World Cup - and the upcoming football season.

She already established herself as a proper WAG when she travelled to South Africa to support Frank and the England team in their game against Germany last Sunday.

And she was on board the official England plane that brought the dejected players back to Heathrow after they were knocked out.