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He is giving up his designations, including the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under growing attention over his links with convicted criminal Epstein, with requests for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now looks to have resulted in the figure deciding to of his own accord return his titles and to give up participation of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "vigorously refute the claims against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my immediate and wider family, we have agreed the persistent claims about me take away from the responsibilities of the monarch and the royal household," said a statement from him.

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

"I support my choice five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With the King's approval, we think I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said before, I strongly dispute the allegations against me."

The royal has encountered a range of scandals, such as a lawsuit he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, doubts about his finances and his connection with an suspected foreign agent.

He will remain a member of royalty - but will stop to be the Duke of York, a designation received from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

The prince had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer was seen at official royal events. His position now will be even more diminished.

His previous partner will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will continue to have the designation of princess.

The royal has encountered severe scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier Epstein, more recently involving questions about when he had actually severed contact.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all links with the financier after they had been seen together in New York in December 2010.

But messages sent in February 2011 later emerged indicating that the prince had confidentially stayed in contact with the financier, such as sending a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the monarchy at the scandals that remained to plague the figure.

In the coming days a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is expected to cast additional attention on his connection with the plaintiff and Epstein.