The posts circulated widely, appearing in languages including Thai, Portuguese, Arabic and Armenian.
Other visitors outside the palace had also been taken in.
The images, promising a “royal Christmas experience”, circulated widely online in multiple languages. Photo / Facebook / One Hundred And Ten Percent British
“I’ve seen it on TikTok and Instagram reels, that there was going to be a Christmas market for the first time ever here at Buckingham Palace,” said Emma Paxton, a 26-year-old chemical engineer from Boston.
“It looked pretty real,” Paxton said, but she realised it was fake, days before arriving on holiday.
Lucas, a Frenchman living in London, told AFP he had heard “a lot” about a market next to the palace from friends living abroad.
“I just found out now with you that it’s actually AI-based,” said Lucas, who declined to give his full name, adding he felt “a bit of frustration”.
Several bloggers posted videos, debunking the claim including Love and London travel blog, which pointed out that in the AI images, the market appears to be in an area closed to the public and the festive lights appear to hang from the sky.
London has several genuine Christmas markets, including one on Trafalgar Square.
The AI market images first appeared in September, after the Royal Collection Trust (RCT), which organises visits to the palace, posted an announcement about a small pop-up Christmas shop.
The RCT responded to fake posts on its website, saying the shop is “not a Christmas market” and “there will not be a Christmas market at Buckingham Palace”.
The palace on Friday had the usual area fenced off outside and crowds of tourists.
Signs gave directions to the Royal Mews Christmas Shop, which sells souvenirs such as chocolates and tea tins with royal branding.
Staff there acknowledged they were aware of the AI posts but declined to comment further.
– Agence France-Presse