A fabricated image of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Archie and Lilibet, has been circulating on social media, sparking controversy just weeks after the couple released their official virtual Christmas card.
The festive card conveyed warm wishes, reading:
“On behalf of the office of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation.
We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful New Year.”
The card featured six photos showcasing the couple engaged in their charitable efforts, alongside a heartwarming shot of them crouching with outstretched arms as their children ran towards them. However, the children’s faces were not visible.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 amidst allegations of racism within the royal household regarding Archie’s skin tone and Meghan’s struggles with mental health due to relentless public scrutiny, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have prioritized maintaining their children’s privacy after relocating to Montecito, Los Angeles.
Following the release of their Christmas card, an AI-generated image of Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, surfaced online, angering fans. The black-and-white image depicted the siblings appearing much older than they did in the Sussexes’ most recent official photos.
The fake card read:
“Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. From Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Internet users quickly identified the image as a design template from Canva, a popular graphic design platform. The photo shows the ‘siblings’ smiling side by side, but glaring inaccuracies have caused outrage among fans and supporters of Harry and Meghan.
The discrepancies were evident from the outset since the couple—who married in 2018—did not release the image. Visible red flags included a distorted path around Lilibet’s knee and the children’s concealed hands, lending credence to claims that AI-generated images still struggle with rendering hands and feet accurately.
One user on X expressed their dismay:
“Y’all creating AI images of other people’s children. Seek help, s**t is weird.”
Another pointed out:
“The kids don’t even look like brother and sister. They look like exactly what they are: AI.”
A third added:
“Hidden hands and feet are very strange. AI can’t do hands and feet properly yet.”
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about privacy and the ethical implications of AI-generated images, particularly when involving minors.