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He is surrendering his titles, such as the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under growing attention over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, with requests for the royal household to take action against him.

That now looks to have caused the prince deciding to willingly return his honors and to give up participation of the Garter Order.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my close and extended family, we have agreed the continued accusations about me distract from the work of the King and the Royal Family," said a message from him.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and nation first.

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

"With the monarch's consent, we think I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously dispute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has encountered a series of issues, including a legal case he resolved with the plaintiff, inquiries about his finances and his connection with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will stay a prince - but will discontinue to be the Duke of York, a honor granted from his mother, the Queen Elizabeth II.

The prince had already stopped to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at state occasions. His status now will be even more reduced.

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

Prince Andrew has faced severe examination over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more recently including questions about when he had really severed ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had ended all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in NYC in December 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that Andrew had in private remained in contact with the financier, such as swapping a note: "Stay in contact and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting frustration in the royal household at the scandals that persisted to surround the figure.

Next week a book released after death by Giuffre will be issued which is expected to cast additional focus on his association with the plaintiff and Epstein.