Ex-Prince Andrew charged taxpayers for massages during his stint as UK trade envoy: reports

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been accused of charging taxpayers for massages while he was serving as a trade envoy for the UK — as British cops continue to probe allegations he shared confidential trade docs with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

One former civil servant, who worked in the trade department during the 2000s, claimed he challenged the then-prince’s massage expenses racked up during a Middle East trip before alleging he was overruled, as first reported by the BBC. 

Retired former civil servants were reportedly stunned by Andrew’s alleged spending habits and regretted not raising the issue with senior government officials.

“I can’t say it would have stopped him, but we should have flagged that something was wrong,” one told the BBC.

Andrew, who was known as “Air Miles Andy” for his frequent international travel, wasn’t paid for his trade envoy role, but it was predominantly funded by taxpayers.

But his travel expenses were difficult to trace as they were covered by different budgets.

“I couldn’t believe it… it was like it wasn’t real money, they weren’t spending of any of their own money,” one anonymous civil servant said.

Andrew’s checks were not intensely scrutinized, according to the civil servants.

Andrew has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The BBC has not seen proof Andrew charged taxpayers for massages, but the UK’s Department for Business and Trade reportedly didn’t challenge the claims when approached.

Andrew’s apparent fondness for massages has been well-reported. 

Andrew spent weeks at convicted pedophile Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion and regularly received massages, according to court docs filed by Epstein’s butler, Juan Alessi.

“I would say, daily massages. They have a daily massage,” Alessi said, according to a transcript from a 2009 deposition. “Prince Andrew spent weeks with us.”

The allegations surfaced after Andrew was arrested for suspected misconduct in public office. 

He allegedly forwarded trade docs to Epstein while serving as an envoy. Former UK security minister Tom Tugendhat has called for an investigation into potential treason, according to the Sun.

Andrew was arrested on the royal family’s Sandringham estate in eastern England, where he is currently living in exile.

Sandringham was searched by cops, and searches at Andrew’s former home, Royal Lodge, continued into this week.

Andrew faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he’s convicted of the white-collar crime.

Andrew was the first royal since Charles I in 1647 to be arrested. 

Despite being stripped of his royal titles by his brother, King Charles, Andrew is still in the line of succession. He is 8th in line to the throne.

The UK government is reportedly considering legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession.