Taylor Swift has been in a secret romance 'for months

Singer Taylor Swift is reportedly dating British actor Joe Alwyn.

The Bad Blood hitmaker took some time off from the limelight after wrapping up her 1989 World Tour in December, 2015, but it appears she has been kept busy with matters of the heart during her break.

And she has been keeping her latest romance top secret for months.

"This isn’t a new couple alert or a secret relationship," a source tells The Sun newspaper. "The only people this has been a secret to is the media because Taylor and Joe’s closest friends and their families were aware they have been together for several months."

Taylor's previous romances with Brits Harry Styles, Calvin Harris and Tom Hiddleston all ended in disaster, and insiders claim she's keen to keeping her relationship with rising star Alwyn low-key in a bid to avoid another media circus, which has dogged so many of her past romances.

"After her 1989 tour and all the attention Taylor received, she learned she had to be more protective of her personal life and she and Joe decided early on to keep their private life private," the insider adds, noting "after what happened with Tom Hiddleston, they were determined to keep it quiet."

And the plan appears to be working - Taylor, 27, and her 26-year-old toyboy are going from strength to strength.

"Taylor and Joe are the real deal," the source adds. "This is a very serious relationship." The source insists.

Swift experienced a bit of a romantic nightmare last year (16) after calling it quits with DJ Calvin. The pair confirmed the break-up and then engaged in a public feud after Swift revealed she wrote part of This Is What You Came For - his single with Rihanna. During the height of her feud with Calvin, she struck up a fleeting summer romance with Hiddleston and followed The Night Manager star to Australia, where he filmed the new Thor movie. The fling fizzled out in August (16). music news.com