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The royal is relinquishing his titles, among them the the Duke, he has announced in a individual message.

He has been under growing scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take action against him.

That now looks to have led to the royal deciding to of his own accord return his honors and to give up participation of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my close and broader family, we have decided the persistent allegations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal household," said a message from the royal.

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

"I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from royal engagements.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we think I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said earlier, I firmly deny the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a series of controversies, such as a court case he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his money matters and his association with an suspected Chinese spy.

He will remain a prince - but will stop to be the the Duke, a designation received from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already ended to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his royal style and no longer participated at official royal events. His role now will be even more lessened.

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

Prince Andrew has faced intense examination over his associations with notorious figure the financier, more lately involving questions about when he had truly cut off ties.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, he had said that he had severed all connections with the financier after they had been pictured together in New York in December 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later came to light suggesting that he had privately stayed in communication with Epstein, for example swapping a note: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the monarchy at the issues that remained to surround the royal.

Next week a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is likely to cast further scrutiny on his connection with Ms Giuffre and the financier.