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The royal is giving up his honors, among them the Duke of York, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his associations with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the monarchy to take action against him.

That now looks to have resulted in the figure deciding to willingly give up his honors and to relinquish membership of the Garter Order.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my close and wider family, we have agreed the ongoing accusations about me distract from the work of the monarch and the royal household," said a message from the royal.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and nation first.

"I support my choice five years ago to step back from royal engagements.

"With the monarch's agreement, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously dispute the accusations against me."

He has encountered a number of scandals, among them a lawsuit he resolved with an accuser, questions about his economic affairs and his connection with an accused intelligence operative.

He will stay a prince - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a title bestowed from his parent, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer participated at public engagements. His status now will be even more diminished.

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

Prince Andrew has been under severe scrutiny over his links with convicted sex offender the financier, more lately involving inquiries about when he had really severed ties.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all connections with the financier after they had been photographed together in NYC in December 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later came to light indicating that he had privately stayed in communication with him, such as swapping a note: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in the royal household at the issues that persisted to envelop the royal.

Soon a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is anticipated to cast more attention on his connection with the plaintiff and the financier.