Harry and Meghan used Taylor Swift’s bodyguards for NYC trip
EXCLUSIVE: Look what you made me do! Taylor Swift gave up her personal bodyguards to protect Harry and Meghan during their whistle-stop tour of New York – including ex-NYPD cop
Meghan and Harry were protected by Taylor Swift’s bodyguards during their whistle stop tour of New York City this weekend, DailyMail.com can reveal The couple was driven around by a former NYPD officer in his 50s – known as Jimmy – who also serves at the singer’s head of security A second, shorter and burlier guard who was also seen looking after the Sussexes has also been pictured alongside Swift in 2019 It’s unclear if Swift loaned Meghan and Harry her guards during their stay as a favor or if the Sussexes happened to hire them from a company The two guards were seen at the posh Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side every day of the couple’s stay They were spotted out front coordinating with other security personnel, including one who claimed to be with the Department of Homeland Security
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were protected by Taylor Swift‘s bodyguards during their whistle stop tour of New York City, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were driven around and guarded by the security detail, including a former NYPD officer who is also Swift’s head of security.
A tall, balding man in his 50s known as Jimmy, who was seen watching over the couple this weekend, has dealt with stalkers and intruders who made their way into the singer’s apartment in the past.
Another guard, who is shorter, burlier, and in his 40s, has also been seen guarding Swift, including during her appearance at the 2019 VMAs.
It is not clear if Swift loaned Meghan and Harry her guards during their stay in New York as a favor or if the Sussexes happened to hire them from a company.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were accompanied by a massive security detail during their whistle-stop tour of New York City over the weekend
Included in their entourage was a bodyguard, known as Jimmy, who also serves as Taylor Swift’s head of security, DailyMail.com can reveal. The tall balding security guard is seen right with the pop star and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn in New York City in 2019
But their choice in security detail shows the extremely high level of protection the pair needed while on their trip to Manhattan.
The two guards were seen at the posh Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side every day while Meghan and Harry were staying there.
They were spotted out front coordinating with other security personnel, including those who claimed to be with the Department of Homeland Security.
Whenever the Sussexes went anywhere, the two men – who wore blazers, chinos and had their shirts untucked – always went with them.
Jimmy was featured in a 2014 profile of Swift in Rolling Stone which said that he provided ‘Defcon-3 level’ security for the singer.
He reportedly lives in a $5million apartment across the hallway from Swift’s $15million penthouse in a residential building in Tribeca and controls the locks on the front door regardless of who comes in and out, such as other famous residents like Orlando Bloom.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2014, Jimmy said that ‘most of the neighbors know what’s what by now’ and are okay with it.
A second, shorter and burlier bodyguard (left) in his 40s, who was seen alongside Jimmy (pictured together during the Global Citizens Festival in Central Park Saturday) is also known to provide security for Swift
The two guards were seen at the posh Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side every day while Meghan and Harry were staying there
It is not clear if Swift loaned Meghan and Harry her guards during their stay in New York as a favor or if the Sussexes happened to hire them from a company
The taller guard, Jimmy (far left) has dealt with stalkers and intruders who made their way into the Swift New York City apartment in the past
In April, he also appeared to be included in a police report after Hanks Johnson, 52, was arrested for allegedly trespassing inside Swift’s apartment.
When police asked why Johnson was inside the locked doors, he allegedly said that he was ‘here to see (Swift)’ and that they were ‘friends.’
James McNelis, who is identified in the complaint as Swift’s head of security, said that she did not invite him into the building.
McNelis said he had seen Johnson outside of the property at least five times in the last six months and that he had tried to ring the bell and enter the building before.
The guard said that he personally told Johnson not to hang around outside the entrance and that he was not welcome.
The other guard assigned to Harry and Meghan has not been seen as frequently with Swift.
A photo of him outside the 2019 VMA Awards shows him on guard as Swift leaves to a waiting car.
Photos show his ears are curled suggesting he has either been a rugby player or a boxer.
The two guards demonstrate the extremely high level of protection the pair needed during their trip to Manhattan
Another man (pictured) who claimed to be with the Department of Homeland Security was also seen guarding the couple at almost every public appearance this weekend
Swift has been the victim of a slew of stalkers including Eric Swarbrick who broke into her home, took a shower and fell asleep – he was arrested and jailed for six months.
Another stalker was given a restraining order for sending Swift letters saying he wanted to rape and kill her.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Swift said that stalker incidents make her ‘nervous’ and she tries ‘not to talk too much about it because it scares me.’
She said: ‘Sometimes you get a dude who kind of wants to steal you. That’s why I’m so grateful I have people looking after me, like (my bodyguard) Dennis.’
Swift added that stalkers were the ‘price you pay for doing what you love.’
Meghan and Harry’s security entourage also included a driver in his 70s who wore a white flat cap and another driver, a man in his 30s with a beard who was always dressed smartly in a suit and vest.
A black man who drove in Meghan and Harry’s convoy in a black Escalade with tinted windows told DailyMail.com this week that he was the Department of Homeland Security.
Meghan and Harry’s security entourage also included a driver in his 70s who wore a white flat cap and another driver, a man in his 30s with a beard who was always dressed smartly in a suit and vest
The couple were flanked by security personnel everywhere they went. Pictured: Meghan and Harry leave the Global Citizen Festival in New York Saturday
The man did not specify which agency and experts said that he could have been drafted in to provide coverage because of the high demand for protection during the week of the United Nations General Assembly.
Meghan and Harry arrived in New York on Wednesday where they were seen having a drink in the bar of the Carlyle.
On Thursday they visited the World Trade Center with New York mayor Bill de Blasio and New York governor Kathy Hochul before going on a walk around the 9/11 Memorial.
The couple on Friday visited a school in Harlem and ate at a soul food restaurant before having an hour and a half meeting with the deputy UN Secretary General on Saturday.
On Saturday night they spoke at the Global Citizen concert in Central Park where they called for more coronavirus vaccines to be made available to developing nations.
