People left raging after flocking to festive market at one of the UK’s most iconic spots – just to discover it’s a scam
CHRISTMAS shoppers been left baffled after going to Buckingham Palace to visit its ”first ever” festive market – just to discover it doesn’t exist.
Images circulating online had promised a festive attraction with market stalls, a gorgeous Christmas tree and fairy lights in front of the iconic UK spot.
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Kate Ovens (pictured) was left disappointed after visiting – only to find out it wasn’t realCredit: tiktok/@kateovens
Tourists were met with the usual plain facade of the palace – though there is a gift shop around the cornerCredit: tiktok/@khoslaa
AI-generated images depicted snowy chalets – with some of the ‘markets’ even appearing to take place behind the gates of the PalaceCredit: tiktok/@volga_londonstories
The reality of the outside of Buckingham Palace was scaffolding and puddlesCredit: tiktok/@kateovens
But after flocking to the Palace this week, eager Christmas shoppers were left disappointed to find no trace of a snowy market – and instead, the tourist spot was hiding behind scaffolding and security fences.
The advertising posters for the market had been made using artificial intelligence, and were uploaded by several accounts with large followings on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
A closer look at the AI-generated imagery showed that the lights were floating in mid-air, while revellers’ faces were obscured and signage on the fronts of the stalls was illegible.
On TikTok, furious visitors have shared their reactions to finding out the market was ”fake”, even saying they felt they’d been ”lied to”.
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Filming herself outside the Palace, Shivani Khosla (@khoslaa) said in her video: ”The truth behind the Buckingham Palace Christmas market is actually insane.
”So guys, a few months ago, a guy basically posted a picture of this and they said there’s going to be loads of markets outside Buckingham Palace.
”But he lied – the picture was AI-generated. Instead, this is what’s actually there. It’s just a shop.”
Kate Ovens (@kateovens) added: ”If you’ve seen the Buckingham Palace Christmas market on your For You page, just to let you know it’s not real! I am here, right now, on the day that it “opens”.
”I’m going to show you exactly what it is because it’s not a Christmas market, it’s an AI-generated photo.
”And I kind of knew this before coming. That’s Buckingham Palace, it doesn’t look like the photos online,” she said in the video.
”I had read some things online that this might not even be a real thing.”
London-based page, @loveandlondon, also warned guests of the scam
”If a London account you follow has posted this, you should unfollow them because it’s a lie.
”When I first saw the photo, I thought it didn’t make any sense, because there’s a fence that surrounds this part of Buckingham Palace.
”Also, where are these lights being hung from, the heavens? If you see this being shared, I think you should call out that this is completely false.”
The social media account @London.travelers had shared the image with their 2.5 million followers, though this has since been deleted, as per Mail Online.
Before it was removed, the post read: ”Get ready for a royal Christmas experience. For the first time ever, Buckingham Palace is hosting a Christmas market from December 1st to 24th, bringing festive cheer to one of London’s most iconic landmarks.
Another post promised it would be a ”festive wonderland with charming stalls, handcrafted gifts, and seasonal delights – making it a must-visit destination this Christmas”.
There is, however, a festive pop-up shop at the Royal Mews gift shop around the corner, which is open all year round.
Among the festive items on display for sale are baubles, toy corgis and gift sets.
Londoner James BJ, 36, told the Metro: ‘’It was a complete waste of time. It was dark, cold and nothing was there.
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”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.’’
