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Butler's Royal Photo Blunder: AI Fake Sparks Outrage
27 May
Summary
- Former royal butler shared an AI-generated photo of William and Kate.
- He admitted mistaking the fake image for an authentic one.
- The butler warned others about the difficulty of detecting AI.
Grant Harrold, who served as a royal butler from 2004 to 2011, recently shared a photograph he believed to be of Prince William and Kate Middleton from 2004. Harrold, now a royal commentator, posted the image on social media, calling it a "true royal love story." However, social media users quickly pointed out that the image appeared to be AI-generated due to its blurry aspects and awkward angles.
Responding to the speculation, Harrold issued a clarification stating he did not take or own the image. He explained that he saw a young William and Kate in the photo that reminded him of when he first worked for them and genuinely mistook it for an authentic picture. He expressed his desire to share the joy the image brought him but acknowledged that AI can be difficult to detect.
William and Kate's relationship became public in 2004, the same year Harrold joined the royal household. The couple first met at the University of St Andrews, and after a brief separation in 2007, they married in 2011. They now have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
