Keen-to-be-private-ish couple Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn went out in London yesterday, and paparazzi documented their rare public date. For the first time, Swift and Alwyn gave a subtle comment on reports that they’re secretly engaged, with a sly show of a single hand: They don’t want you to know if they engaged, and maybe they aren’t, as Swift’s left ring finger had no ring on it.
If Swift is, in fact, engaged, it’s possible the singer didn’t wear her ring out, knowing photographers could capture it and break the news before she can in the way she wants—if she even wants to. If she’s not engaged, there it is: proof there’s no public wedding to expect, and the reports are just rumors.
Despite the confusion, Swift and Alwyn did manage to enjoy a lovely summer day in London, having iced coffee and walking through a park where locals did not notice them, the photo agency reports, although its photographer obviously did. Swift held up a kid’s juice box while sitting at an outdoor table with Alwyn, the agency added.
Sartorially, both Swift and Alwyn complemented each other in matching blue shorts. Swift paired hers with a white tank top and white baseball cap.
Alwyn and Swift have been together for over five years. Alwyn addressed engagement rumors in the most evasive way possible back in April. He told The Wall Street Journal, “If I had a pound for every time I think I’ve been told I’ve been engaged, then I’d have a lot of pound coins,” he said. “I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn’t say.”
He used nearly the exact same line in Vulture’s May profile, telling writer Rachel Handler, “The truth is, if I had a pound coin for every time someone told me I’ve been engaged or I’m getting engaged, I would have a lot of pound coins. If the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say. If the answer is no, I wouldn’t say.”
The Sun recently claimed that Swift and Alwyn were secretly engaged at the end of June. A source “close to Joe” told the outlet, “Taylor and Joe are incredibly happy and very, very in love. They’ve actually been engaged for a few months but have only told their inner-inner circle—basically immediate family, and trusted, very old friends. Everyone has been sworn to secrecy, too. Taylor has a beautiful ring but she only wears it when she’s at home—i.e. behind closed doors. Again, only a handful of people know details about the wedding and Taylor hasn’t even told some of her team about the engagement. They want their love to stay away from the cameras as much as possible. This is just for them. And if and when they do exchange vows, there most definitely won’t be any Vogue, Rolling Stone or Hello! magazines there. It will be simple and elegant—like them.”
