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The royal is surrendering his titles, among them the the Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under increasing scrutiny over his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now looks to have caused the prince deciding to of his own accord return his titles and to relinquish membership of the Garter Order.

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

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my close and broader family, we have decided the persistent claims about me take away from the duties of the monarch and the royal household," said a statement from him.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my obligation to my family and country first.

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

"With the monarch's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I firmly deny the allegations against me."

The royal has encountered a number of controversies, including a lawsuit he ended with the plaintiff, questions about his economic affairs and his association with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will stay a prince - but will cease to be the Duke of York, a honor granted from his mother, the former monarch.

He had already ceased to be a "active member" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at public engagements. His role now will be even more diminished.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will carry on to have the honor of princess.

The royal has encountered intense attention over his associations with convicted sex offender Epstein, more in recent times involving inquiries about when he had actually ended communication.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all ties with Epstein after they had been pictured together in the city in the end of 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later surfaced implying that he had in private stayed in contact with Epstein, including swapping a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the scandals that remained to surround the royal.

In the coming days a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is anticipated to cast additional scrutiny on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and Epstein.