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The royal is surrendering his titles, such as the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under mounting attention over his connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now appears to have caused the figure deciding to voluntarily hand back his honors and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "firmly dispute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the monarch, and my direct and wider family, we have concluded the persistent allegations about me divert from the work of the monarch and the royal household," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my family and nation first.

"I stand by my resolution five years ago to step back from official duties.

"With His Majesty's approval, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I strongly refute the claims against me."

He has encountered a number of controversies, including a lawsuit he ended with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his money matters and his connection with an accused foreign agent.

He will continue to be a prince - but will discontinue to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his parent, the former monarch.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer participated at public engagements. His status now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their offspring will continue to have the title of royal princess.

Prince Andrew has encountered strong scrutiny over his connections with convicted sex offender the financier, more lately involving inquiries about when he had truly ended contact.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all connections with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in the end of 2010.

But correspondence sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that Andrew had in private continued in touch with him, including swapping a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the issues that continued to plague the figure.

Soon a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be issued which is expected to draw more focus on the royal's association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.