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The royal is relinquishing his honors, such as the York's Duke, he has declared in a individual message.

He has been under growing pressure over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, with demands for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now appears to have resulted in the prince deciding to voluntarily return his titles and to give up involvement of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "strongly refute the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the monarch, and my close and broader family, we have agreed the continued allegations about me take away from the duties of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a announcement from the royal.

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

"I uphold my decision five years ago to step back from official duties.

"With His Majesty's consent, 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 before, I firmly dispute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has encountered a series of issues, among them a legal case he settled with the plaintiff, doubts about his economic affairs and his association with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will continue to be a member of royalty - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his parent, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at public engagements. His status now will be even more diminished.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will continue to have the designation of princess.

He has been under strong scrutiny over his associations with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times featuring questions about when he had actually ended communication.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in the city in the end of 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that he had in private continued in contact with the financier, for example exchanging a note: "Stay in contact and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in the royal household at the controversies that persisted to surround the figure.

Soon a book released after death by the accuser will be issued which is expected to draw further attention on the royal's involvement with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.