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The royal is surrendering his designations, including the the Duke, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under growing scrutiny over his associations with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to voluntarily hand back his designations and to surrender involvement of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly dispute the claims against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my close and wider family, we have decided the ongoing allegations about me distract from the work of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a message from him.

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

"I uphold my choice five years ago to withdraw from royal engagements.

"With His Majesty's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a number of issues, such as a legal case he ended with an accuser, questions about his economic affairs and his association with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will stay a member of royalty - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a designation received from his mother, the Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had forfeited the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at official royal events. His role now will be even more reduced.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer Duchess of York, but their daughters will continue to have the designation of princess.

The royal has encountered severe scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier Epstein, more recently featuring doubts about when he had truly severed communication.

In his television appearance, the royal had said that he had cut off all links with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in late 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later surfaced suggesting that Andrew had in private continued in communication with him, including exchanging a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing frustration in the royal household at the controversies that continued to surround the figure.

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be released which is expected to draw further scrutiny on his involvement with Ms Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.