Questions may arise about Taylor Swift’s connection to Prince Harry’s ongoing security issues in the U.K., yet the “Cruel Summer” artist has unintentionally sparked a huge debate in British politics due to her police escort during the Eras Tour—a privilege that Prince Harry has not been granted.
After stepping back from his role as a senior member of the Royal Family in 2020, Prince Harry lost his police protection and has since been advocating for its reinstatement during his visits to the U.K., citing threats against himself and his family. Taylor Swift was granted a police escort while in London this summer, following terror threats that led her to cancel her shows in Vienna.
As Taylor Swift enjoys police protection, Prince Harry continues to advocate for the same privilege, highlighting disparities in security arrangements
The Sun reported that London’s mayor and the U.K.’s home secretary, along with Taylor’s mother, Andrea Swift, allegedly “pressured” the Metropolitan Police to provide a taxpayer-funded escort for the pop star from her hotel to Wembley Stadium. However, Lisa Nandy, the U.K. secretary of state for culture, media, and sport, refuted these claims in an interview with Sky News.
Nandy clarified that the decision regarding police protection for a VIP is an “operational matter for the police, not the government,” and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was unable to mandate such arrangements. Still, The Sun noted that Andrea Swift reportedly “threatened to cancel the August shows unless a police convoy was arranged.”
Commenting on the situation, royal and political analyst Shola Mos-Shogbamimu expressed to Newsweek that “there’s a double standard” in the treatment of Swift and Prince Harry. “Why would you allow her to travel without police protection when there are clear terror alerts? The same can be said for Prince Harry.”
While Mos-Shogbamimu acknowledged that she had no issue with Swift receiving police protection, deeming it “appropriate” given the thwarted attack in Vienna, she insisted that Prince Harry should receive equivalent security measures. “The threats and death threats he and his family face—I’d categorize that as domestic terrorism—are genuine, making police protection essential,” she added.
