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The royal is giving up his titles, including the Duke of York, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now looks to have led to the figure deciding to of his own accord return his honors and to give up participation of the Order of the Garter.

In his statement he said he continued to "strongly dispute the allegations against me".

"In discussion with the monarch, and my close and wider family, we have concluded the persistent allegations about me take away from the responsibilities of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a message from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and land first.

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

"With the monarch's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the awards which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously refute the allegations against me."

He has encountered a series of scandals, such as a court case he resolved with an accuser, doubts about his economic affairs and his connection with an alleged Chinese spy.

He will remain a prince - but will stop to be the the Duke, a title bestowed from his parent, the Queen Elizabeth II.

The prince had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer participated at state occasions. His status now will be even more diminished.

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

The royal has been under severe scrutiny over his links with disgraced financier the financier, more lately involving inquiries about when he had really ended ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had cut off all connections with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in December 2010.

But messages sent in February 2011 later came to light indicating that Andrew had confidentially continued in touch with him, including sending a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing frustration in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that continued to plague the figure.

Soon a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be issued which is anticipated to draw additional scrutiny on his involvement with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.