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The royal is surrendering his designations, among them the Duke of York, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under growing pressure over his links with sex offender the financier, with calls for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now appears to have resulted in the royal deciding to of his own accord return his honors and to relinquish involvement of the Garter Order.

In his statement he said he continued to "vigorously deny the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my close and extended family, we have concluded the ongoing allegations about me divert from the work of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a statement from the royal.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my obligation to my relatives and land first.

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

"With the monarch's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my title or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I firmly deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has encountered a number of controversies, such as a court case he settled with an accuser, inquiries about his economic affairs and his involvement with an suspected Chinese spy.

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

The prince had already ceased to be a "active member" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer participated at state occasions. His position now will be even more reduced.

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

The royal has faced intense scrutiny over his connections with notorious figure the financier, more in recent times involving inquiries about when he had really cut off ties.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had severed all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in NYC in December 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later emerged indicating that the prince had privately remained in communication with the financier, such as exchanging a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been mounting frustration in the royal household at the controversies that remained to surround the royal.

Soon a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is likely to bring further attention on his association with the plaintiff and Epstein.