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The royal is surrendering his designations, such as the Duke of York, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under growing attention over his connections with disgraced financier the financier, with demands for the Palace to take action against him.

That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to of his own accord hand back his designations and to surrender participation of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In discussion with the monarch, and my direct and wider family, we have concluded the persistent claims about me distract from the duties of the King and the monarchy," said a message from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my family and country first.

"I support my decision five years ago to stand back from royal engagements.

"With His Majesty's consent, we think I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my title or the awards which have been granted to me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously dispute the allegations against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a number of controversies, including a court case he ended with Virginia Giuffre, inquiries about his money matters and his association with an accused intelligence operative.

He will continue to be a member of royalty - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a designation bestowed from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer participated at official royal events. His status now will be even more diminished.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their daughters will persist to have the designation of princess.

Prince Andrew has been under strong scrutiny over his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more lately involving doubts about when he had really cut off ties.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, the royal had said that he had cut off all links with the financier after they had been pictured together in the city in December 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later emerged indicating that the prince had in private continued in communication with the financier, for example sending a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing frustration in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that persisted to plague the royal.

Next week a book released after death by the accuser will be published which is expected to draw more scrutiny on his involvement with Ms Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.