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The royal is giving up his designations, including the York's Duke, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under growing pressure over his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now seems to have led to the prince deciding to willingly give up his designations and to surrender involvement of the Garter Order.

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

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my close and broader family, we have decided the ongoing claims about me distract from the work of the monarch and the royal household," said a message from the royal.

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

"I uphold my choice five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With the monarch's agreement, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said earlier, I strongly deny the allegations against me."

The royal has been involved in a number of issues, such as a lawsuit he settled with an accuser, questions about his money matters and his connection with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will continue to be a prince - but will stop to be the Duke of York, a designation bestowed from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ended to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer was seen at public engagements. His position now will be even more diminished.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will continue to have the title of princesses.

He has encountered intense examination over his associations with convicted sex offender Epstein, more recently including doubts about when he had truly cut off ties.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all links with Epstein after they had been pictured together in New York in December 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later emerged implying that the prince had confidentially continued in communication with the financier, including exchanging a note: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in the royal household at the issues that remained to envelop the figure.

Soon a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is expected to bring further scrutiny on the royal's association with Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.