The Duke of York gives up his designation as Duke of York.

He is relinquishing his honors, such as the the Duke, he has stated in a personal statement.

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

That now looks to have resulted in the prince deciding to of his own accord hand back his designations and to surrender membership of the Garter Order.

In his message he said he continued to "firmly deny the allegations against me".

"In talks with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the continued allegations about me divert from the duties of the monarch and the royal household," said a statement from the royal.

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

"I uphold my decision five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With the King's consent, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously deny the allegations against me."

The royal has encountered a number of scandals, including a legal case he settled with the plaintiff, inquiries about his economic affairs and his involvement with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will stay a royal - but will stop to be the York's Duke, a title granted from his mother, the Queen Elizabeth II.

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

His previous partner will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will persist to have the designation of princesses.

The royal has encountered strong examination over his associations with convicted sex offender the financier, more lately featuring doubts about when he had truly ended contact.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in December 2010.

But correspondence sent in the following year later came to light suggesting that Andrew had privately stayed in communication with him, for example swapping a communication: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the issues that continued to surround the royal.

In the coming days a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be issued which is likely to draw additional focus on his involvement with the plaintiff and Epstein.