AIR MILES ANDY TO THE RESCUE

...of, er, magician Paul Daniels who was running slightly late

PRINCE Andrew flew Paul Daniels in the Queen’s helicopter because the magician was in danger of being late for a show.

Paul’s widow Debbie McGee, who has revealed the story, said Princess Anne bossed around her brothers Andrew and Edward to ensure the star was on time.

The flight was in

1987 after Paul and the royals took part in the televised It’s a

Royal Knockout event at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. Anne heard the magician was due to perform a private show 150 miles away at the Savoy Hotel in Central London.

During the flight south, Paul entertained Andrew’s then wife Sarah Ferguson with magic tricks.

Debbie, 61, said Anne had summoned Andrew – dubbed Air Miles Andy due to his love of using helicopters and planes on official engagements – and asked him: “Have you still got the Queen’s helicopter?”

Debbie added: “He said ‘yes’ and she said ‘well, go and get it ready, you’re going to fly Mr Daniels to Windsor Castle.

“I’ll phone ahead and get a car ready, he’s got to be at the Savoy’. I waved them off on the helicopter pad... Paul I think did card tricks all the way to Windsor Castle. “Then when he got there, she’d not only just organised a car, it was the Queen’s car with the Royal Standard flag – the stretch limo.”

Debbie, speaking on her podcast Spill the Tea, added: “He got into his tuxedo in the back of it going along the M4.

“Then he got to the Savoy, walked on stage and said, ‘Well, you won’t believe where I’ve been’ and of course had a great night at the Savoy.”

Paul, married to Debbie for 28 years, died in 2016 aged 77.