Former royal butler Grant Harrold is addressing criticism after posting a photo of Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, which many users thought was created using artificial intelligence. On May 23, 2026, Harrold uploaded what appeared to be an old photo of the couple from their younger years. The image showed Kate sitting on William’s lap while the couple embraced each other. The former royal worker captioned the photo by calling it a “true royal love story” and claimed it was taken around the time he first met the couple in 2004.
After social media users questioned whether the picture was AI-generated, Harrold released a public statement on May 26, 2026, through his Instagram Stories. He said that he honestly believed the image was real before sharing it online. Then, he expressed that he does not own the photo and added that it reminded him of the years he worked closely with Prince William and Princess Kate. He also admitted that AI-generated pictures are becoming more difficult to identify and promised to be more careful with future posts shared on his platform.
Read his official response below:
Grant Harrold worked as a butler for the future King Charles between 2004 and 2011 at Highgrove House. According to his official website, his responsibilities included assisting King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, and Prince Harry. He also occasionally worked for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Harrold entered royal service during the same year that Prince William and Kate Middleton publicly confirmed their relationship after being photographed together during a ski trip in Switzerland in 2004.
