Taylor Swift’s Now Part of the Conversation Surrounding Prince Harry’s Security Lawsuit—Here’s How
Taylor Swift is entering the chat—well, sort of—on Prince Harry’s security lawsuit. The Grammy winner is now part of the conversation surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s ongoing legal battle for U.K. police protection after getting a police escort for her “Eras” tour stops in London, England.
Swift had a U.K. police escort for her August concerts at Wembley Stadium
After a round of shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in June 2024—and a selfie with Prince William—Swift returned in August with a police escort a week after a foiled terrorist plot led to the cancelation of her Vienna, Austria, tour stops.
The U.K.’s The Sun has since reported Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, threatened to cancel the second round of concerts at Wembley Stadium unless the government provided a police escort. The outlet further alleged that U.K. government officials helped pressure the Metropolitan Police to make it happen despite a reluctance on the police’s part due to high taxpayer costs.
The report has been denied. Although, as the outlet noted, it’s usual for the Grammy winner to get “VVIP protection,” which is “usually for senior royalty and politicians.”
Swift’s U.K. police escort highlights ‘double standard’ for Harry
Commentator Shola Mos-Shogbamimu told Newsweek how Swift’s police protection while in England was not only “right,” but that it also underscored a potential “double standard” for Harry.
“I’d say there’s a double standard. There’s people trying to politicize the Metropolitan Police[’s] actions in giving Taylor Swift protection. But that was the right thing to do,” she said.
“Why would you let her go up and down without police protection, knowing fully well that there were the terror alerts? And the same can be said for Prince Harry,” the author of This Is Why I Resist continued. “The same grounds that exist for giving her protection are the same grounds that exist for giving Prince Harry protection, especially since his reasons are long-standing.”
Harry lost police protection after stepping away from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle. Soon after he took legal action against the British government.
He’s since shared why he rarely visits the U.K. with the Duchess of Sussex—and presumably their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—is security. (It’s also said to be partly why Harry and Meghan keep their kids out of the spotlight.)
“I do not have a problem with Taylor Swift having that police protection,” Mos-Shogbamimu went on. (Swift has reportedly heightened her own security measures.)
“Where she was able to get a police escort because she’s in the country, and because of the reports and death threats of terrorism and the like, the same should be afforded to Prince Harry, who faces the same if not more. The threats, the death threats—and I would call it domestic terrorism that he and his family face—is real. So it does make sense that he gets police protection,” Mos-Shogbamimu said.
Since moving stateside, Harry and Meghan have paid for private security.
Harry’s security lawsuit is a sore point in his relationship with King Charles
The ongoing lawsuit has caused a breakdown in the communication between Harry and King Charles III, according to multiple reports. A source close to the duke told The Daily Beast the 40-year-old and king were no longer talking by phone. The reason? The “unbelievable situation” surrounding Harry being denied automatic police security.
Meanwhile, People reported reconciliation is “distant at best.” The conversation between the father and son has, a friend of Harry’s claimed, become “complete silence” on the king’s part.
Harry’s security lawsuit remains ongoing as he pursues an appeal after losing in court twice.
