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The royal is relinquishing his designations, among them the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under increasing pressure over his connections with disgraced financier Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take action against him.

That now looks to have caused the figure deciding to of his own accord give up his honors and to give up involvement of the prestigious order.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly refute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my close and extended family, we have agreed the continued allegations about me take away from the work of the King and the monarchy," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and land first.

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

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

Prince Andrew has encountered a series of controversies, among them a lawsuit he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his money matters and his involvement with an alleged foreign agent.

He will continue to be a member of royalty - but will cease to be the Duke of York, a honor received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already ended to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at official royal events. His position now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will persist to have the title of princesses.

He has faced intense attention over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving doubts about when he had really ended ties.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had severed all connections with the financier after they had been seen together in the city in late 2010.

But messages sent in February 2011 later surfaced suggesting that he had confidentially remained in contact with the financier, such as sending a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been mounting frustration in Buckingham Palace at the scandals that persisted to envelop the royal.

Next week a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be issued which is anticipated to cast further scrutiny on his association with Ms Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.