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IN BRIEF
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There Thailand has officially denial an image widely shared on social media showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling before the king Rama X during the royal visit to the Élysée Palace. The photograph, which went viral within hours, was described as false by Thai authorities and by independent verifications.
The visit—the first by a Thai monarch to France since 1960 and commemorating the 170th anniversary of bilateral relations—included the presentation of honorary distinctions to the King and Queen. A Thai-language Facebook page has garnered over 40,000 likes And 2,000 shares within 24 hours by relaying the image, exploiting in particular sensitivities linked to the strict law on the lèse-majesté in Thailand.
THE Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that such a scene had taken place and the service of fact-checking AFP, which submitted the image to a verification tool, concluded that it had been generated by AI toolsComparison with official photos has highlighted significant differences, and no official image shows Mr. Macron kneeling during the ceremony.
Summary : An image widely shared online claiming to show Emmanuel Macron kneeling before the King Rama during a dinner at the Élysée Palace was denied by the Thai Ministry of Foreign AffairsAFP and fact-checking services have established that the image was generated by artificial intelligence and did not correspond to the official photographs of the visit.
Context of the royal visit
The visit of king of Thailand and the Queen’s visit to France, the first by a Thai monarch since 1960, was part of the 170th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During a dinner at the Élysée Palace, the French President presented the sovereign with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and to the queen Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, ceremony covered by several local media outlets and websites (report, program of the visit).
The viral photo and its spread
An image showing a French president apparently kneeling before the king has circulated widely on social media. A Thai-language Facebook page has garnered over 40,000 likes and has been shared more than 2,000 times in 24 hoursThe image was then picked up by a page followed by more than two million subscribers, known for publishing nationalist content.
Media dissemination and coverage
The rapid spread fueled articles and shares on several news sites, which relayed the rumor before verification (WeBradio, Yahoo, MSN).
Official response from Thailand
THE Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally denied that a photograph shows Emmanuel Macron kneeling to present the decorations to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The ministry clarified that no official images document such a gesture during the ceremony or the dinner at the Élysée Palace, thus contradicting the viral post.
Several French and international publications relayed this denial and explained the institutional and protocol context surrounding the visit (Le Figaro, The Little Journal).
Technical checks and elements
The service Fact Check AFP submitted the image to image verification tools and obtained confirmation that it had been generated with OpenAI toolsComparison with photographs taken during the events and disseminated by news agencies has highlighted significant differences in faces, postures and lighting.
The fact-checkers noted that no official source—including the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs—published a photograph showing Macon kneeling during the visit, reinforcing the theory that the image was fabricated. For follow-up on the fact-checking, see in particular the fact-checking and reporting articles (WeBradio, Yahoo).
Signs of AI creation
The analysis tools detected anomalies typical of synthetic images: inconsistencies in textures, subtle errors on hands and clothing, and a rendering of faces not corresponding to official photographs of the same event.
Cultural context and sensitivity
The act of kneeling carries significant cultural weight in Thailand, where practices of respect for the monarchy coexist with strict lèse-majesté laws. The dissemination of images suggesting an unprecedented diplomatic display has therefore stirred considerable emotion, especially since disinformation can exacerbate national tensions.
Media reactions and follow-up
Several media outlets corrected or updated their publications after the denials and fact-checks. The platforms and pages that contributed to the viral spread sometimes deleted or amended their posts, while explanatory articles sought to place the affair in the broader context of AI-manipulated images (Le Figaro, Yahoo, MSN).
To delve deeper into regional contexts or consult other reports on Thailand, one can refer to recent articles covering local news and events (criminal case, tragedy during a procession), as well as accounts of the royal visit (royal stay).
- Official denial : THE Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies that Emmanuel Macron knelt before the king.
- Falsified image The widely shared image has been identified as AI-generated.
- AFP Verification : comparison with photos from the visit shows significant differences.
- No official source : no photo showing Macron on his knees has been published by the Thai ministry.
- Historical visit : first visit of a Thai monarch to France since one thousand nine hundred sixty, for the 170th anniversary of bilateral relations.
- Honors The king received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour The queen received the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit.
- Spread : the publication has obtained more than 40,000 likes And 2,000 shares in 24 hours, and was shared by a page with more than 2 million of subscribers.
- Cultural and legal issue The practice of kneeling exists in Thailand, a country subject to a lèse-majesté law strict, which increases sensitivity to images.
Frequently Asked Questions — Thailand denies a photo showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling before King Rama X
Q: What is the rumor going around?
A: An image widely shared on social media purported to show French President Emmanuel Macron on your knees in front of the King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), during a reception at the Élysée Palace.
Q: Who has denied this image?
A: THE Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially denied the existence of a photo showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling to present decorations to the king.
Q: Is the image authentic or altered?
A: AFP’s fact-checking service submitted the image to an analysis tool, which concluded that it had been generated by artificial intelligence tools from OpenAI. Comparisons with photos published by AFP also highlighted significant differences.
Q: How widespread was the dissemination of this image?
A: A Thai-language Facebook page that posted the image received more than 40,000 “likes” and was shared more than 2,000 times in 24 hours. The image was also shared by a page followed by approximately 2 million of people.
Q: Were there any official images showing Macron on his knees?
A: According to an AFP investigation and statements from the Thai ministry, no official image published by the ministry does not illustrate Emmanuel Macron kneeling during the ceremony or dinner at the Elysée.
Q: What honors were bestowed during the visit?
A: During dinner at the Élysée Palace, Emmanuel Macron decorated King Rama X with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and Queen Suthida of the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, according to the Thai press.
Q: Why is the representation of a gesture such as kneeling sensitive?
A: In Thai culture, kneeling before the king is a matter of protocol and symbolism, and the country enforces a law of lèse-majesté very strict, which makes images and allegations concerning royalty particularly sensitive.
Q: When did the King of Thailand visit France?
A: The King and Queen’s visit to France took place this week and constituted the First visit of a Thai monarch to France since 1960, also marking the 170th anniversary diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Q: How can readers verify such images in the future?
A: It is recommended to check official sources (ministries, news agencies), to seek reliable photographic corroborations, and to use services of fact-checking recognized when images appear suspicious or come from accounts with a large audience and no clear origin.