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The royal is surrendering his honors, including the Duke of York, he has stated in a own words.

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

That now seems to have resulted in the royal deciding to voluntarily return his honors and to give up participation of the Garter Order.

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

"In talks with the King, and my direct and wider family, we have concluded the ongoing claims about me distract from the responsibilities of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my obligation to my relatives and country first.

"I stand by my choice five years ago to step back from public life.

"With the King's consent, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said before, I firmly refute the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a range of controversies, such as a court case he ended with the plaintiff, doubts about his money matters and his association with an accused foreign agent.

He will stay a prince - but will stop to be the the Duke, a title granted from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at official royal events. His position now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their children will continue to have the designation of princesses.

Prince Andrew has faced strong scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier Epstein, more recently featuring inquiries about when he had actually severed communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, the royal had said that he had severed all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in New York in December 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that he had in private continued in touch with the financier, such as exchanging a message: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the monarchy at the issues that continued to surround the figure.

Soon a book released after death by the accuser will be released which is anticipated to bring further attention on Prince Andrew's connection with Ms Giuffre and the financier.