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

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with convicted criminal Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take action against him.

That now seems to have led to the figure deciding to willingly give up his titles and to give up participation of the prestigious order.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly dispute the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the monarch, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued claims about me divert from the responsibilities of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a announcement from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.

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

"With the King's agreement, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I firmly dispute the accusations against me."

The royal has faced a series of scandals, including a lawsuit he resolved with an accuser, inquiries about his finances and his involvement with an accused Chinese spy.

He will stay a royal - but will discontinue to be the the Duke, a title granted from his mother, the former monarch.

He had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at public engagements. His role now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer York's Duchess, but their daughters will continue to have the title of royal princess.

He has encountered severe attention over his associations with convicted sex offender the financier, more in recent times including inquiries about when he had actually ended contact.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in late 2010.

But messages sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that the prince had in private stayed in contact with Epstein, including exchanging a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in the royal household at the issues that continued to envelop the prince.

Soon a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is anticipated to cast additional attention on his connection with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.