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The royal is giving up his designations, among them the Duke of York, he has announced in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting pressure over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the Palace to take action against him.

That now appears to have led to the figure deciding to of his own accord return his titles and to give up membership of the Garter Order.

In his statement he said he continued to "strongly deny the allegations against me".

"In consultation with the monarch, and my direct and extended family, we have decided the ongoing claims about me divert from the responsibilities of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my obligation to my kin and nation first.

"I stand by my resolution five years ago to withdraw from public life.

"With the King's consent, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the awards which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I strongly dispute the allegations against me."

He has been involved in a range of issues, among them a court case he resolved with an accuser, questions about his finances and his association with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will remain a member of royalty - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had forfeited the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer participated at public engagements. His position now will be even more diminished.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer Duchess of York, but their children will carry on to have the honor of princess.

He has faced strong attention over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, more lately including inquiries about when he had truly severed communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in NYC in late 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later emerged implying that he had confidentially stayed in contact with him, including exchanging a note: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the issues that remained to envelop the royal.

Soon a late publication by the accuser will be issued which is likely to bring more attention on his association with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.