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Prince Andrew is surrendering his designations, such as the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his links with sex offender Epstein, with requests for the Palace to take action against him.

That now appears to have caused the royal deciding to of his own accord return his titles and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my direct and extended family, we have decided the continued allegations about me distract from the duties of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a statement from him.

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

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

"With His Majesty's approval, we think I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my honor or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I firmly dispute the claims against me."

The royal has encountered a range of issues, such as a legal case he ended with an accuser, inquiries about his economic affairs and his association with an alleged foreign agent.

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

The prince had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had forfeited the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at state occasions. His status now will be even more diminished.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer York's Duchess, but their children will continue to have the honor of princesses.

Prince Andrew has faced strong examination over his connections with notorious figure the financier, more in recent times including inquiries about when he had actually cut off contact.

In his media discussion, he had said that he had cut off all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been photographed together in the city in the end of 2010.

But correspondence sent in the following year later surfaced indicating that he had confidentially stayed in communication with the financier, for example exchanging a note: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in the royal household at the scandals that continued to plague the figure.

Next week a posthumous memoir by Giuffre will be published which is likely to cast more focus on the royal's involvement with Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.