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The royal is relinquishing his designations, such as the York's Duke, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his links with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take measures against him.

That now looks to have led to the royal deciding to of his own accord give up his honors and to give up involvement of the Order of the Garter.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly dispute the allegations against me".

"In discussion with the monarch, and my direct and extended family, we have concluded the persistent claims about me distract from the responsibilities of the King and the monarchy," said a message from him.

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

"I support my resolution five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With the King's consent, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said previously, I firmly dispute the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a range of issues, including a lawsuit he resolved with an accuser, inquiries about his finances and his involvement with an accused intelligence operative.

He will continue to be a prince - but will stop to be the the Duke, a title bestowed from his parent, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at state occasions. His role now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their children will persist to have the honor of royal princess.

He has been under intense attention over his links with disgraced financier Epstein, more in recent times featuring questions about when he had actually ended ties.

In his media discussion, he had said that he had severed all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in New York in December 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later surfaced implying that he had in private continued in touch with him, for example swapping a message: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in the royal household at the scandals that remained to envelop the prince.

Next week a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is anticipated to bring additional scrutiny on the royal's involvement with Ms Giuffre and the financier.