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The royal is surrendering his titles, including the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with sex offender the financier, with requests for the Palace to take action against him.

That now looks to have resulted in the royal deciding to of his own accord hand back his titles and to relinquish membership of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In discussion with the sovereign, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the ongoing accusations about me take away from the duties of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

"I stand by my decision five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With His Majesty's consent, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I firmly refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a series of controversies, such as a legal case he resolved with the plaintiff, questions about his finances and his connection with an accused Chinese spy.

He will stay a royal - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a title received from his mother, the former monarch.

The prince had already ended to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer participated at official royal events. His role now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their offspring will persist to have the title of princesses.

Prince Andrew has been under severe attention over his links with notorious figure the financier, more lately including doubts about when he had really severed communication.

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

But messages sent in February 2011 later came to light suggesting that he had in private stayed in touch with the financier, including exchanging a message: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that continued to plague the royal.

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be published which is expected to cast further focus on his connection with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.