Heir to throne and little known royal linked in fake AI photo that’s gone viral

The heir to the throne of Belgium has had her image used in a fake photo that’s gone viral on social media.

Princess Elisabeth, 23, found her face used in a snap that appeared to show her arm in arm with another, royal – Prince Georg of Liechtenstein.

The image pretended to present the two with their arms around one another during a holiday in Greece. The Greek flag was conveniently flying behind them.

It went viral as guesses began over whether the princess was in a relationship. Elisabeth’s private life has always been well protected by her royal family

In the end, it was the other royal in the fake image who put the record straight. The Princely house of Liechtenstein issued a statement saying that the photo was ”a fake, made with the help of AI.”

The Belgian royal palace had been less certain when it was asked about the photo, saying it couldn’t be certain whether it was real or not but added ”no matter what, it is a private issue.”

Princess Elisabeth is currently studying in the US and is in a second year at Harvard. Prior to that, she had been at Oxford University. During her times away from Belgium, her private life has remained private.

She is set to be the first woman to rule Belgium. Prince Georg is the second son of the current heir to the throne in Liechtenstein, Prince Alois, and his wife, Princess Sophie.

In just a few weeks’ time, Elisabeth will turn 24 and questions are already arising over what her immediate future holds. Following her studies, she may well become a full working member of the Belgian royal family. At the moment, the majority of engagements are carried out by her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, with some support from Elisabeth’s aunt, Princess Astrid.

The AI photo follows a turbulent month for the Belgian royals who started September with the revelation that King Philippe’s brother, Prince Laurent, had had a son before he got married. Clement Vandenkerckhove, who’s just turned 25, was born as a result of a relationship between Laurent and the well known singer, Wendy Van Wanten, whose real name is Iris Vandenkerckhove.

Clement could, eventually, be entitled to be an HRH and prince. However, he won’t have any succession rights.

Elisabeth, meanwhile, is continuing her studies thousands of miles away but she will be back closer to home later in the week as she is accompanying her parents to the abdication of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and the celebrations marking the accession of his son, Guillaume, to the Grand Ducal throne.