Prince Andrew may soon resume international travel after the FBI formally closed its investigation into his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, lifting a years-long legal cloud that had effectively kept the disgraced royal confined to the United Kingdom.
The Duke of York, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 following allegations made by Virginia Giuffre and scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein, has remained largely secluded at Royal Lodge in Windsor. He has reportedly avoided traveling abroad out of concern he might face arrest or civil litigation overseas.
A friend of Andrew told The Sun: "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."
According to a recently disclosed two-page FBI memo, investigators "did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties." The memo emphasized that "perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither justice nor the victims," and reaffirmed the agency's commitment to "combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims."
The decision follows an internal review initiated under the Trump-appointed leadership of the Department of Justice and the FBI, concluding that no charges would be brought against Prince Andrew or any other high-profile Epstein associate.
Royal biographer Nigel Cawthorne told Newsweek, "He's off the hook isn't he. The whole thing's run out of steam."
Prince Andrew had publicly stated he was willing to cooperate with law enforcement, but in 2020, U.S. prosecutors accused him of providing "zero cooperation." The DOJ later submitted a formal request to the U.K.'s Home Office to speak with the prince via the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty-used in criminal cases-but the investigation was paused last year.
In 2022, Andrew paid a reported $16 million to settle a civil lawsuit with Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. He denied all allegations and did not admit liability. Giuffre died in April at age 41.
The closure of the case comes as Prince Andrew continues to face public and familial estrangement. RadarOnline reported that "he just doesn't have that many friends anymore" and remains largely unwelcome in royal circles. His only known foreign travel since the scandal broke was a private jet trip to Bahrain in 2022.
Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Andrew was earning income by leveraging former business connections through a commercial arrangement with Dutch firm Startupbootcamp. The deal involves monetizing global contacts developed during his now-defunct Pitch@Palace initiative, primarily in East Asia-contacts he had previously been unable to visit due to legal fears.
Andrew's frequent international travel during his time as a trade envoy earned him the nickname "Air Miles Andy," though since the Epstein fallout, his movements have been severely restricted. With the FBI now officially closing the case, the prince may be preparing to return to life beyond Royal Lodge.
"What's he supposed to do with the rest of his life?" the unnamed friend asked. "He hasn't been convicted of any crime and can't sit around doing nothing at Royal Lodge forever."
