Fans Rush to Defend Taylor Swift Reportedly Receiving Privilege Not Afforded to Prince Harry While in UK

Taylor Swift is at the center of yet another controversy—and this one involves a fellow celebrity who’s had to deal with his own fair share of scandals: Prince Harry.

While in the UK over the summer for the Eras Tour, the “Fortnight” singer was provided with a police escort on the way from her hotel to Wembley Stadium, according to Newsweek, which is apparently a level of security that Prince Harry doesn’t get.

The royal stopped receiving around-the-clock protection after giving up his official duties in 2020, even though there had been terrorist threats made against him, wife Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

While Lisa Nandy, the government’s culture secretary, said the thwarted terror plot in Vienna was the reason why Swift was given police protection, many are criticizing officials for giving her more security than the prince. 

🤩🤩 SIGN UP for Parade’s Trending News newsletter & we’ll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments & celebrity news everyone is talking about 🗞️🗞️

Others are defending Swift’s need for security, however, while acknowledging that the Duke of Sussex also requires protection. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, a commentator on British politics, took to X to argue that the threats against both celebrities were real.

“If Taylor Swift can get police protection escort (rightly so) because of terror threat so should Prince Harry because of the real threat of domestic terrorism & death threats he, Meghan Markle & kids face in UK. They don’t…..we know why,” Mos-Shogbamimu wrote.

Related: Swifties Swoon After Paul McCartney Name-Drops Taylor Swift in Sweet Fan Interaction

Fans in the comments further defended the decision to give Swift a police escort, with some saying she was more deserving of security than Harry.

“But Taylor Swift brings money into the UK, Prince Harry has always taken taxpayers’ money and given nothing back,” wrote one X user. 

“She had a one off protection detail, it isn’t open to her whenever she asks and it would be assessed whenever she returns, same as Harry and Meghan would if a review found it was needed for a planned return,” claimed another person. 

Mos-Shogbamimu also spoke to Newsweek about the “double standard” some people are applying to the situation. 

“There’s people trying to politicize the Metropolitan Police 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 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 added.

Next: Prince Harry Is ‘Living His Best Life’ While Showing Off His Dance Moves in New Video