Taylor Swift's UK security sparks debate as Prince Harry denied protection despite facing same threat

LONDON, ENGLAND: When Taylor Swift hit the stage for her summer shows in London, no one expected that the real drama would unfold offstage.

Her police escort to and from Wembley Stadium has now become a flashpoint in British politics, with some even dragging Prince Harry into the mix.

Taylor Swift was provided special escort in the UK

It all started when rumors began swirling that the UK’s home secretary had pressured police into providing a special escort for Swift. This gave way to accusations of preferential treatment, with many wondering why the police had been called in for a pop star.

Some saw the situation as a glaring double standard, especially when compared to the ongoing drama surrounding Prince Harry’s security—or lack thereof.

Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children — Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — lost their round-the-clock police protection after Harry stepped down from his royal duties in 2020. Despite numerous attempts to fight the decision, the prince’s requests for police protection have largely been denied.

Now, some are asking why Taylor Swift got police protection while Prince Harry continues to struggle for his own. Author and commentator Shola Mos-Shogbamimu didn’t hold back in her comments to Newsweek.

"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. Why would you let her go up and down without police protection, knowing fully well that there were terror alerts? And the same can be said for Prince Harry," she said.

"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," Mos-Shogbamimu continued.

Since stepping down from royal duties, Harry has experienced real threats, including a scare in February 2018 when a suspicious white powder and a racist note were sent to him and Meghan. Fortunately, the powder turned out to be harmless, but the threat was real enough to warrant concern.

Even after multiple legal battles, Harry’s request for police protection has been denied except for when he attends royal family events.

Why Taylor Swift’s protection was deemed necessary

Taylor Swift’s police escort was seen as a direct response to recent terror threats, especially following the tragic 2017 Manchester bombing where 22 people were killed at an Ariana Grande concert. After that, security for public figures performing in the UK took on heightened importance.

The Labour government's culture secretary Lisa Nandy was quick to set the record straight. "It's an operational matter for the police, not for the government," Nandy told Sky News journalist Kay Burley.

She added, "Don't forget that when it comes to Taylor Swift, what had just happened was that a series of concerts have been canceled in Vienna because of the very serious security threat. I really utterly reject that there's been any kind of wrongdoing or undue influence in this case."

Yet, the allegations didn’t stop there. The Sun reported that Taylor Swift’s mother had threatened to cancel the London shows unless her daughter was given police protection. The paper also suggested that Labour’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan had intervened to pressure the police into complying, despite the high cost to taxpayers.

As if that wasn’t enough, Prime Minister Keir Starmer got tangled up in the mess when it was revealed he had accepted free tickets to Swift’s concert for himself and his wife. Starmer later repaid the money for the tickets.

"I do not have a problem with Taylor Swift having that police protection," Mos-Shogbamimu said. "I think it is appropriate because of the terrorist alarm, which is what caused them to cancel the shows [in Austria this past August].

"We all know what happened with Ariana Grande in Manchester, so of course it makes absolute sense that there's a police escort," she continued. "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 added.

The Metropolitan Police, for their part, have remained steadfast. "The Met is operationally independent. Our decision-making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk, and harm and the circumstances of each case," a spokesperson said. "It is our longstanding position that we don't comment on the specific details of protective security arrangements."