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He is surrendering his honors, such as the York's Duke, he has declared in a own words.

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

That now looks to have resulted in the figure deciding to voluntarily return his honors and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In consultation with the monarch, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the continued accusations about me distract from the work of the King and the Royal Family," said a announcement from the royal.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my obligation to my family and country first.

"I uphold my decision five years ago to step back from public life.

"With the monarch's consent, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I firmly deny the accusations against me."

He has been involved in a range of issues, including a court case he settled with an accuser, inquiries about his money matters and his connection with an alleged Chinese spy.

He will remain a prince - but will discontinue to be the Duke of York, a honor granted from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ended to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at state occasions. His role now will be even more lessened.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will continue to have the honor of royal princess.

The royal has faced strong attention over his links with convicted sex offender Epstein, more lately featuring doubts about when he had truly ended ties.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all connections with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in the city in December 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later emerged suggesting that he had in private continued in contact with him, for example exchanging a message: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that continued to envelop the prince.

In the coming days a late publication by the accuser will be published which is expected to cast further attention on Prince Andrew's association with Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.