Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s ‘Sussex Squad’ have been criticized for creating a ‘ridiculous’ Christmas card featuring an AI-generated image of Archie and Lilibet.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in Montecito, California, posted their annual holiday message earlier this month, which included six standout photos from the year.
The selection included an image of Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, running into their parents’ arms with their backs to the camera, prompting royal fans to spread unfounded claims that the duke and duchess had “faked” the photo with Photoshop.
Last week, a member of Harry and Meghan’s ‘Sussex Squad’ created a fake Christmas card featuring an AI-generated portrait of the couple’s rarely seen children.
The digital card, which appears to have been made in Canva Pro by an anonymous royal fan, reads: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
In the middle of the card is an AI-generated black and white image of Archie and Lilibet, which was created using images that are already in the public domain.
The fake image, which appears to have been first posted two days after Christmas, shows Lilibet wearing a floral dress similar to the one the couple’s daughter wore in her official holiday card.
Meanwhile, the CG Archie is dressed in a knit sweater and cargo pants, which stick out at an odd angle, as he smiles at the camera.
The digital card, which appears to have been made in Canva Pro by an anonymous royal fan, reads: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
What’s more, the royal fan also went so far as to create AI versions of the Duke and Duchess’ rescued beagles, Mia and Guy.
One of the fake dogs is lying in the bottom left corner while the other stands over it, and the AI fails to render its right leg.
Other signs that the card is AI-generated include the tiles curving around Lilibet’s leg and Archie’s hair fading to the sides.
The image has been widely shared on X, with royal fans criticizing the Sussex Squad’s “ridiculous” attempt to convince users it was a genuine image of Harry and Meghan’s children.
One wrote: ‘The kids don’t even look like brother and sister. They look exactly what they are. AI.’ Another added: “The dogs are hysterical.”
“I can’t believe people think (Meghan) actually shared that,” said a third. “At this point, it’s getting ridiculous.”
A fourth said: “This is f***ing Photoshop.” The seam on (Archie’s) pants is not joined.
Meanwhile, a fifth noted: ‘The hidden hands and feet are very strange. The AI still cannot manipulate hands and feet correctly.
Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their quasi-royal tour of Colombia in August 2024
The image has been shared widely on X, with royal fans criticizing the “ridiculous” attempt to convince users it was a genuine image of Harry and Meghan’s children.
“A complete invention, 100% AI,” said a sixth. “To think some people will believe this is real.”
After the AI image went viral, other eagle-eyed royal fans noticed that the card design came directly from Canva Pro, meaning anyone with an account could have simulated it.
It comes after conspiracy theorists on social media seized on Meghan and Harry’s Christmas card to spread wild speculation about the couple, including a ridiculous accusation that they used artificial intelligence or “borrowed” children to play Archie and Lilibet. .
A group of Twitter critics of the Sussexes insisted the photo was “digitally altered” and made the bizarre and unfounded claim that the decision to show their two children from behind has less to do with privacy and more to do with non-existence. of them.
A conspiracy theorist said the Sussexes had decided to ‘rent a child for the holidays’ in a row that also highlighted Archie and Lilibet’s height and hair color as they are rarely seen in public.
But a Photoshop expert told MailOnline the photo looked genuine.
The Duke and Duchess’ Christmas card included an image of Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, running into their parents’ arms with their backs to the camera, prompting royal fans to spread unfounded claims of that the Duke and Duchess had “forged” the photo with photoshop
Additionally, a leading Fleet Street photographer said that while he is “very prepared” for them to look like “the perfect family”, he does not believe it was created using AI.
It came after the Princess of Wales admitted in March that she edited her official Mother’s Day portrait released by Kensington Palace.
As a result, there is more attention on photographs of Harry and Meghan, especially one that showed Princess Lilibet running into Prince Harry’s arms, while Meghan, 42, held her arms open for a hug from Prince Archie.
Some questioned the angle of Meghan’s feet and the length of her left arm, as well as Archie’s legs and stride, Lilibet’s gait and even the quality of the image to claim the charming photo is ‘fake.’
Several critics insisted that the images are deliberately low resolution to hide inconsistencies, rather than the fact that they are small and printed on card.
Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation’s season’s greetings showcased the highlights of the Sussexes’ year, including photos from their four-day visit to Colombia in August.
British Photoshop expert James Middleton, who is not related to Kate Middleton, said the size of the card’s image makes it almost impossible to tell if it has been edited.
He told MailOnline: “It’s going to be very difficult to determine the authenticity,” adding that because it is one of six images on a small card, it is “too small” to analyze in the way the image of the Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day. be.
And he added: ‘Meghan looks a little painted. It could just be an effect of the light, because he is so mottled and because of his white sweater.
But ruling out a key conspiracy, he said: “I think the position of his feet seems fine and where they should be.”
Photographer Glenn Gratton, who runs leading photo agency W8 Media, said: “It’s very staged and a moment that’s achieved to make them look like the perfect family.”
‘Meghan is hugging the child. Harry is hugging the girl. They have three dogs with them and are all together on the perfect trip on a sunny California day. It’s all too perfect.
“It’s an image for the Instagram world we live in now. It’s not AI, but I have no doubt it’s been retouched like many other people retouch their own Christmas cards before sending them.”