The world of Spanish royalty has recently been shaken by the dissemination of a fake photograph of Princess Leonor, allegedly taken by the famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The image, generated by artificial intelligence, has quickly circulated on social networks and has caused a stir both in the media and in the Royal House itself.
Photo of Princess Leonor by Annie Leibovitz
The controversial black and white photograph shows Princess Leonor looking much more mature and sophisticated, with an adult hairstyle and refined features, giving her a more cinematic than youthful air.
These details are clearly reminiscent of the characteristic portrait style of Annie Leibovitz, the renowned American photographer.
However, the truth is that Leibovitz was hired by the Bank of Spain to portray only King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia on February 7.
Princess Leonor, 18 years old, was at that time in Zaragoza, in full military training, and was not part of the photo shoot.
Given the rapid spread of this fake photograph, the Spanish Royal Household has confirmed that the image is completely false and does not correspond to any royal session carried out by Annie Leibovitz.
The creator of the AI-generated image is Adellia Carolline, a Brazilian graphic designer with no relation to the Spanish Crown.
In an interview with ‘Semana’ magazine, Caroline admitted to having created the image using artificial intelligence, stating that “it is an AI-generated image. My photo is very common, just like hers”.
This situation highlights the challenges posed by AI-generated images and the ease with which they can create confusion and controversy.
Despite the upset caused by this false photograph, Princess Leonor and her parents, the King and Queen, received some welcome news last week.
The director general of the military academy where Leonor undergoes her training has delivered a diploma that highlights “her effort, her discipline, and her brilliance”, recognizing her excellent performance as a cadet.
Princess Leonor continues to reap success in her military training amid this media hype.