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The royal is relinquishing his designations, such as the York's Duke, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his links with convicted criminal Epstein, with requests for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now looks to have led to the prince deciding to of his own accord hand back his titles and to surrender participation of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly deny the claims against me".

"In consultation with the monarch, and my immediate and extended family, we have concluded the ongoing allegations about me take away from the work of the monarch and the monarchy," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

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

"With the monarch's agreement, we think I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my honor or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously deny the allegations against me."

The royal has encountered a series of controversies, among them a lawsuit he ended 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 York's Duke, a title received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at public engagements. His role now will be even more reduced.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their offspring will persist to have the designation of royal princess.

The royal has been under strong scrutiny over his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more lately including inquiries about when he had really severed ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had severed all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in New York in the end of 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later emerged suggesting that the prince had in private stayed in communication with the financier, such as swapping a message: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting displeasure in the monarchy at the scandals that persisted to surround the prince.

Next week a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is expected to draw additional attention on the royal's involvement with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.