Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Beachside Bakehouse Visit Revealed as AI Stunt
- An independent café in San Remo, Victoria, has faced criticism after using an AI-generated image to falsely suggest that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had visited the establishment...
- The Beachside Bakehouse posted a computer-generated photo on Facebook depicting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex smiling while enjoying coffee on the café's terrace.
- The stunt, which the café later admitted was done for a bit of fun, successfully fooled several social media users.
An independent café in San Remo, Victoria, has faced criticism after using an AI-generated image to falsely suggest that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had visited the establishment during an unofficial tour of Australia.
The Beachside Bakehouse posted a computer-generated photo on Facebook depicting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex smiling while enjoying coffee on the café’s terrace. The image was accompanied by a caption stating, we always said we were fit for royalty, just didn’t think they’d actually take us up on it
, and added, Next round’s on you Haz
.
The stunt, which the café later admitted was done for a bit of fun
, successfully fooled several social media users. Some patrons congratulated the staff on the royal visit, with one local describing the event as a definite WOW moment
and another noting that they were lucky
the couple chose their location for coffee.
AI Detection and Public Reaction
While many were deceived by the likeness of the couple, other observers identified technical flaws in the AI generation. One social media user pointed out that the real Prince Harry has less hair
than the version depicted in the fake image.
The incident occurred during a period of increased public interest in the couple’s activities in Australia. According to reports from GB News, Meghan Markle has also partnered with a new fashion AI venture during the tour.
Privacy Concerns and Recent Events
The use of AI to simulate the couple’s presence comes amid ongoing tensions regarding the privacy of the Sussexes. Separate reports indicate the couple has recently expressed frustration over the leak of private family photographs.
In a different incident, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly devastated
and felt blindsided
after photos of a private family outing at Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria, California, were made public. The images showed the couple watching their six-year-old son, Archie, taking surfing lessons.
A source told Rob Shuter that the beach trip was intended to be a peaceful, low-key affair and that the couple felt exposed
by the breach of privacy. As a result of the leak, the couple is reportedly re-evaluating who they can trust.