While Buckingham Palace itself is not hosting a market, there is a genuine seasonal offering at the Royal Mews Christmas Shop, open from 14 November to 5 January. Located in the historic Royal Mews the palace’s former stables the shop features a boutique-style selection of festive products, including royal-themed gifts, decorations, and limited-edition items.

The Royal Mews shop offers seasonal drinks, nibbles, and a full-size advent calendar display, revealing a new festive product each day. Entry is free, and purchases support the Royal Collection Trust, funding conservation and public access to the Royal Collection.

Visitors who arrived expecting a sprawling festive market were met with closed gates and, at most, a handful of pop-up stalls. The Royal Collection Trust confirmed publicly: “There will not be a Christmas market at Buckingham Palace.” The viral market simply does not exist, despite the convincing images circulating online.

The genuine festive offering at the palace is the Royal Mews Christmas Shop, open from 14 November to 5 January. Located in the historic Royal Mews the former stables of Buckingham Palace the shop offers a boutique-style selection of royal-themed gifts, decorations, and limited-edition items. Visitors can enjoy seasonal drinks and nibbles and view a full-size advent calendar display, revealing a new festive product each day. Entry is free, and purchases support the Royal Collection Trust, which funds the conservation and public access of royal heritage.

The hoax spread quickly thanks to social media accounts using AI-generated images that appeared remarkably realistic. Many tourists were misled by these images, arriving at the palace expecting a grand market. This incident underscores the growing impact of AI-generated content and the importance of verifying information from official sources.

For those seeking a real festive experience, the Royal Mews Christmas Shop offers an authentic alternative. Visitors can also combine the visit with a tour of the East Wing of Buckingham Palace, which is decorated for the holiday season. Additionally, London’s other Christmas markets, such as Covent Garden and Southbank, provide genuine holiday cheer.

While the Buckingham Palace Christmas Market captured the imagination of social media users, reality is more modest but no less meaningful. The Royal Mews Christmas Shop provides curated royal gifts, seasonal treats, and a true taste of holiday magic all set against the backdrop of royal heritage.

• Independent