‘Sussex squad’ respond after edited image of Meghan and Harry’s children sparks backlash

Staunch supporters of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have responded after a fan used AI to create a Christmas card featuring faux images of the royal couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their annual festive thank you as a virtual Christmas card earlier this month.

The digital offering read: “On behalf of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation.

"We wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful New Year."

It included six photos of the pair, most of which were snapped during their various charitable endeavours.

One particular image included Harry and Meghan crouching with their arms outstretched to embrace their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, whose faces were not visible.

In the weeks since the Christmas card was released, a presumed fan of the Royal couple - who tied the knot in 2018 - has used artificial intelligence to create an alternative version.

Their picture shows a fake black-and-white image of the Sussexes’ young children standing arm-in-arm and ‘smiling’ for the camera.

The family beagles Mamma Mia and Guy were also in the card’s background, which bore the message: "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet.”

There are some glaring errors in the photo, signalling it as AI-generated, including warped floor tiles, one of the dogs missing a leg, and ‘Archie's’ clothes becoming distorted.

Another is that neither of the children’s hands or feet are on show, with one critic commenting: "Hidden hands and feet are very strange. AI can't do hands and feet properly yet.”

It’s thought that the faux artwork was created on Canva before being shared across social media and causing widespread outrage.

One fan has since slammed the card as being ‘very weird’, while another has implored the internet to ‘take down’ the ‘disgusting’ photograph.

“The kids don’t even look like brother and sister. They look like exactly what they are AI,” said someone else.

Now, loyal supporters of Harry and Meghan, known as the Sussex Squad, have had their say on the situation.

In a statement uploaded to X, formerly known as Twitter, a user known as @theroyaleditor has denied that the Sussex Squad was involved in releasing the digital card.

On Monday (December 30), they wrote: “No the 'Sussex Squad' did not release a fake Christmas Card of Archie & Lilibet.”

In the post’s comments section, one user has asked for a Community Note to be added to the AI photograph.

The community-driven content moderation programme is designed to provide content to misleading posts on X while cutting through fake news.

“EXCUSE ME THAT WAS RELEASED BY TROLLS!!!! NOT SUSSEX FANS!!!,” said a second elsewhere.