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The royal is relinquishing his titles, such as the York's Duke, he has announced in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with sex offender Epstein, with demands for the monarchy to take action against him.

That now seems to have caused the prince deciding to of his own accord return his designations and to surrender membership of the prestigious order.

In his statement he said he continued to "strongly deny the claims against me".

"In discussion with the sovereign, and my immediate and extended family, we have decided the continued claims about me distract from the duties of the King and the monarchy," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my relatives and country first.

"I support my decision five years ago to step back from royal engagements.

"With the monarch's agreement, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the awards which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I vigorously deny the claims against me."

He has been involved in a series of controversies, such as a lawsuit he settled with an accuser, doubts about his money matters and his involvement with an alleged foreign agent.

He will stay a royal - but will discontinue to be the Duke of York, a title bestowed from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer appeared at state occasions. His role now will be even more diminished.

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

The royal has been under intense examination over his links with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more lately including inquiries about when he had really severed ties.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been photographed together in New York in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that the prince had confidentially continued in touch with Epstein, including swapping a note: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in the monarchy at the issues that continued to surround the figure.

Next week a book released after death by the accuser will be issued which is likely to cast further attention on his association with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.