‘Air Miles Andy’ free to end travel ban after FBI closes probe into Prince’s links with paedo tycoon Jeffrey Epstein
PRINCE Andrew can end his self-imposed travel ban and return to being “Air Miles Andy” after a leaked memo revealed the FBI is closing its investigation into his Jeffrey Epstein links.
The terrified Duke, 65, has hunkered down at Royal Lodge in Windsor for six years fearing arrest if he left the UK.
A friend said: “He has been abroad once since the scandal erupted.
But without the FBI investigation hanging over his head he will feel it’s safe to travel.
“He has always been very nervous about going abroad and felt he’d always be looking over his shoulder as he could be subject to civil action or at worst, being arrested.
“Hopefully with this out of the way it means he can at least leave the country.
“What’s he supposed to do with the rest of his life? He hasn’t been convicted of any crime and can’t sit around doing nothing at Royal Lodge forever.”
The Duke was dubbed Air Miles Andy amid criticism of his globe-trotting and use of helicopters and planes at taxpayers’ expense.
He racked up huge bills while a working royal and UK trade envoy.
But his only recent trip abroad was on a private jet to Bahrain in 2022.
Earlier this year The Sun revealed he was flogging access to former business contacts around the globe in a commercial deal with Dutch-based firm Startupbootcamp.
Under the agreement, Andy gets cash for passing on links he gained through defunct global scheme Pitch@Palace, mainly in East Asia.
Arrest fears meant he has been unable to meet his contacts.
Andrew had said he would be prepared to speak to the FBI and “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency” after convicted paedophile Epstein died in 2019.
Six months later US prosecutors said he had “provided zero co-operation”.
The Sun then revealed the Department of Justice applied to the Home Office to speak to Andrew via a mutual legal assistance request used only in criminal investigations.
Their investigation was paused last year.
Andrew has always denied claims by Virginia Giuffre that he abused her when she was 17.
Without accepting any wrongdoing, in 2022 he paid her £12million with the late Queen’s help.
Ms Giuffre was found dead at her Australia farm in April aged 41.
