Leeds Castle has launched an interactive AI avatar of Eleanor of Castile as the centerpiece of its new exhibition, "Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile." Developed in collaboration with SKC Studios, the digital queen is housed in a screen shaped like a lancet window and is programmed to recognize visitors and answer questions about her life, from her 13th-century architectural projects to her marriage to Edward I. The exhibition traces her transformation of the castle from a Norman stronghold into a royal residence with Moorish-inspired gardens.
This project reflects a growing trend of museums utilizing artificial intelligence to animate historical figures and create more immersive, human-centric educational experiences. While Leeds Castle claims this is a world-first for interactivity, the initiative follows similar AI deployments at institutions like the Dalí Museum and the Palace of Versailles. By bridging the gap between medieval history and modern technology, the installation seeks to provide a more accessible and engaging narrative of a queen often remembered only through her bronze effigy in Westminster Abbey.