"Tourists and Londoners are being tricked by an AI advert promoting a Crimbo market outside the Royals' residence. The artificially created images, shared on social media, are promoting Buckingham Palace's 'first ever Christmas market', which is allegedly running from November 14 to Jan 5 2026. However, if you look closely at the images, nearly all of them show the stands beyond the gates of the palace, which would be a infringement of counter-terror measures if they were real. Nice try, AI."
"Quite a few people have already been duped by the fake ads. One Londoner told he tried to attend, but 'it was dark, cold and nothing was there'. He added: 'I asked a couple of people also milling around if they were there for the market, and they said said yes but no one knew what was going on. 'There were around 30 of us, just walking back and forth until we gave up and went home.'"
"Others took to social media to share their disappointment. 'I went last night and I confirm - it is not real!' wrote one user. Various accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have posted different AI videos and photos of the palace's market. One account, London.travelers, which has 2.5 million Instagram followers and is run by US travel company Athotel, apparently shared a fake image of the event, but has since taken it down."
An AI-generated advert circulated on social media presented fabricated images of a Christmas market outside Buckingham Palace, claiming dates from November 14 to January 5, 2026. The images positioned stalls beyond the palace gates, which would breach counter-terror measures if authentic. Dozens of tourists visited expecting the market and found nothing, reporting confusion and disappointment while milling around in small groups before leaving. Multiple accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok posted AI videos and photos; at least one large travel account later removed a fake image. Buckingham Palace has a legitimate Royal Mews Christmas Shop selling Royal Collection Trust merchandise as a pop-up.
Read at Time Out London
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