SKC Studios today announces the launch of the world’s first environment-aware
historical AI avatar at Leeds Castle, marking a major step forward in how audiences
access and experience history.
Developed using SKC Studios’ conversational AI platform 1956 Individuals, the AI Queen
Eleanor experience is the culmination of Leeds Castle’s new exhibition, Pilgrimage of
Love: Eleanor of Castile, opening on 9 March 2026. The AI installation allows visitors to
speak directly with one of medieval England’s most influential yet often overlooked
queens, transforming historical interpretation into a dynamic, real-time conversation.
Unlike traditional static digital displays, the AI avatar is aware of its surroundings and
recognises when visitors approach. It responds naturally to questions, engaging in
unscripted dialogue that allows audiences to explore the past on their own terms. The
result is an experience that moves visitors from passive observers to active participants,
bridging more than seven centuries of history.
The exhibition explores the life and legacy of Eleanor of Castile, the formidable Queen of
England and the first female owner of Leeds Castle. Through original research by Leeds
Castle curators, immersive storytelling and innovative technology, the exhibition re
examines Eleanor’s political influence, her travels on crusade alongside her husband
Edward I, and her role as a powerful landowner and cultural patron who helped shape the
royal English court.
Visitors begin their journey in the historic Gloriette, built by Eleanor in 1278, where the
exhibition traces how she transformed Leeds Castle from a Norman fortress into a
refined royal residence. Her introduction of cosmopolitan European influences, from
tapestries and carpets to tableware and courtly culture, helped establish the castle as a
distinctly “queenly” seat of power.
The experience culminates in “An Audience with a Queen,” where visitors encounter the
AI avatar and can ask questions about Eleanor’s life, decisions and legacy. The character
responds in real time, speaking the three languages she likely used during her lifetime -
English, French and Spanish, while capturing the nuances, tone and emotional
expression of human conversation.
Dr Dominique Bouchard FRHistS FSA, Heritage and Engagement Director at Leeds
Castle, said: “What’s most exciting about this project is the way it brings people into a
more human relationship with the past. We are always striving to help visitors connect
with the Castle’s history in ways that feel alive. This new avatar gives audiences the
opportunity to learn about the history of Eleanor of Castile as a person, with depth and
personality.
“The technology allows visitors to ask the questions they want to ask, moving beyond the
questions we as curators might anticipate and engaging directly with the scholarship
behind the exhibition. It allows us to share a meticulously researched story in a format
that feels immediate and personal, inviting visitors to explore Eleanor’s world with
curiosity and confidence.”
Babita Devi, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at SKC Studios, said:
“For centuries, history has largely been something we observe through objects and
interpretation panels. What we are demonstrating here is a new way to access
information. Through 1956 Individuals, knowledge becomes conversational, responsive
and immediate, allowing visitors to ask their own questions and explore history in real
time. Leeds Castle is at the forefront of this shift, embracing innovation to move beyond
static displays and create experiences where the past is not only preserved, but can
actively engage with the present.”
The introduction of AI Queen Eleanor represents the first time an environment-aware
historical AI avatar has been deployed in a heritage setting in this way. By transforming
carefully researched historical knowledge into responsive conversation, the project
demonstrates how AI can expand access to culture while maintaining the integrity and
authority of scholarly interpretation.
Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile opens at Leeds Castle on 9 March 2026 and is
included in the standard admission ticket. The exhibition explores the life and legacy of
Leeds Castle’s first female owner and features the world’s first interactive historical AI
avatar developed by SKC Studios using the 1956 Individuals platform.
ENDS
About Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is considered a national treasure, providing a window onto over nine
hundred years of British history. It is a haven of tranquillity and offers a wealth of discovery
and enjoyment for all ages.
Situated five miles southeast of Maidstone in Kent, Leeds Castle’s rich and riveting
history, including serving six of England’s medieval queens, to its elaborate
transformation into a glamorous 1930s country house retreat for the influential and
famous by Anglo-American heiress, Lady Olive Baillie, secures its place as one of the
most visited historic attractions in Britain.
The Castle and its estate are preserved and maintained by the Leeds Castle Foundation,
a not-for-profit charity.
For more visitor information:
• Please visit www.leeds-castle.com
• Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL
• Telephone 01622 765 400 or email enquiries@leeds-castle.co.uk
About SKC Studios
SKC Studios is a UK Headquartered creative technology company that designs and builds
conversational AI avatars to transform how people engage with places, culture and
information. Their work sits at the intersection of artistic authorship, applied technology,
and storytelling- creating experiences that feel human, intuitive and emotionally
resonant, shaping the next generation of empathetic AI.
1956 Individuals is the flagship conversational AI platform designed and developed by
the team at SKC Studios. It features lifelike, multilingual AI avatars that deliver ethically
designed AI experiences aligned with their belief in “AI with heart.” Engineered for
enterprise impact, their scalable AI solution is designed to elevate the customer
experience while increasing operational efficiency, enabling organisations to reduce
costs, drive growth, and reimagine engagement in the digital era. Built on a foundation of
transparency and trust, every innovation is crafted to strengthen human connection
through technology.
Contact: SKC Studios
Babita Devi
Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
hello@skcstudios.uk
