A convincing but entirely fabricated AI image of a Christmas market at Buckingham Palace has gone viral on social media, tricking countless users into believing the royal residence is hosting a festive event.
The Viral Deception
The fake post, originating from an account called 'London traveller', depicted a scene of festive stalls and twinkling fairy lights on the palace terrace. It claimed, "For the first time ever, Buckingham Palace is hosting a Christmas market from December 1st to 24th". The idyllic but impossible image showed the market in a location where fences and ancillary buildings would normally be, with fairy lights seemingly hanging from the sky itself.
Many social media users were completely taken in by the fantasy, which presented a marketing dream of a royal Christmas experience. The image conjured visions of visitors gazing up at the palace, perhaps even catching a glimpse of a royal family member.
Influencers Sound the Alarm
Fortunately, savvy London influencers were quick to debunk the AI-generated fantasy. Popular influencer 'Love and London' pointed out the glaring inaccuracies on Facebook. "If an account you follow has posted this, you should unfollow them because it is a lie," she stated, highlighting the missing perimeter fence and the inexplicably suspended fairy lights.
She also confirmed that the widespread nature of the fake news has forced the official royal website to explicitly state that there is no Christmas market at Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, TikTok star Kate Ovens also alerted her followers to the hoax, describing the AI image as completely false.
The Reality: The Royal Mews Christmas Shop
So, what is actually happening? While there is no grand market on the palace grounds, a festive pop-up shop has opened nearby. The Royal Mews Christmas Shop on Buckingham Palace Road offers a more modest alternative.
This first-of-its-kind shop opened on November 14 and will run until January 5. Located in the Royal Mews while the stables are closed for winter, it sells official royal gifts, including food and drink from the Royal Collection Trust. Visitors can also find the 'Property of the Royal Kitchen' range of accessories.
However, as Kate Ovens demonstrated in a video tour, the reality is a far cry from the sprawling AI-generated market, which she bluntly labelled "a big waste of time" in comparison to the promised spectacle.
This incident serves as a stark reminder to critically assess sensational posts online, especially as AI technology makes digital forgeries increasingly difficult to spot.
