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The royal is surrendering his honors, including the the Duke, he has declared in a personal statement.

He has been under growing pressure over his connections with sex offender Epstein, with demands for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now looks to have caused the prince deciding to of his own accord give up his titles and to give up participation of the prestigious order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly dispute the claims against me".

"In consultation with the King, and my direct and wider family, we have agreed the ongoing accusations about me divert from the duties of the monarch and the monarchy," said a statement from him.

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

"I support my choice five years ago to withdraw from royal engagements.

"With the monarch's approval, we think I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the awards which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I firmly refute the allegations against me."

He has been involved in a number of scandals, including a lawsuit he resolved with the plaintiff, doubts about his finances and his association with an accused foreign agent.

He will continue to be a royal - but will discontinue to be the the Duke, a designation granted from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer participated at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their daughters will carry on to have the honor of princesses.

The royal has encountered severe examination over his connections with notorious figure Epstein, more in recent times including questions about when he had actually cut off contact.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all connections with the financier after they had been pictured together in the city in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later surfaced implying that he had in private stayed in communication with Epstein, such as exchanging a communication: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the monarchy at the issues that continued to plague the figure.

Next week a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is anticipated to cast additional scrutiny on his involvement with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.