An AI-created Christmas card featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children has recently gone viral, sparking a whirlwind of reactions online. This digital artwork, initially shared by a royal enthusiast on X, depicts a holiday-themed scene with edited images of Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. The card, which presents the children in a black and white format surrounded by festive greenery, was labeled with a cheerful message: “Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.”
However, the card’s authenticity was quickly called into question as observant social media users pointed out the evident signs of manipulation. Critics were quick to notice the poorly executed edits that suggested the images were simply retouched versions of older public photographs. Comments flooded in, with one user criticizing the edit quality, noting issues like mismatched elements and unnatural body parts. Others echoed this sentiment, declaring the creation as “outright fake” and “pathetic.”
Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan had shared their genuine holiday card, which featured a rare glimpse of their children with a more authentic and engaging feel. Their official card conveyed warm wishes for the holiday season and showcased multiple heartwarming moments from the year, including images of Archie and Lilibet in more candid settings.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue their life in Montecito, California, they chose to limit the public sharing of their children’s images, making this faux card all the more noteworthy amid their ongoing absence from royal family festivities, reportedly due to strained relations with other royal members.
For many fans and critics alike, the viral AI card serves as a reminder of the fine line between genuine family moments and artificial representations in the digital age. The contrast between the royal couple’s real holiday greeting and the digital impersonation highlights the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a world increasingly dominated by technology.
