Norwegian Prince Sverre Magnus Targeted by Fake Verified Instagram Account

A fake Instagram profile impersonating Prince Sverre Magnus, the 20‑year‑old son of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, appeared in July 2026. The account, using the handle @sverre__magnus, collected nearly 13,000 followers, was granted Meta’s blue verification badge, and displayed a bio claiming royal status. It posted content linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and followed only Norwegian football star Erling Haaland. The Norwegian royal household confirmed the account is fraudulent, stating “Det er et falskt konto,” and reported it to Meta, expecting its removal. Communications adviser Simen Løvberg Sund explained the palace’s swift response to prevent deception and misuse. Italian hoaxer Tommaso Debenedetti later claimed responsibility, saying the stunt was meant to illustrate the ease of creating deceptive social‑media identities. The incident underscores the vulnerability of public figures, especially royals, to digital impersonation, and highlights concerns about verification processes on platforms like Instagram.