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The royal is giving up his honors, such as the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take measures against him.

That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to willingly return his honors and to surrender membership of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly refute the accusations against me".

"In talks with the King, and my direct and broader family, we have decided the ongoing accusations about me take away from the duties of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a announcement from the royal.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my family and land first.

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

"With the King's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer hold my honor or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I firmly refute the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a range of scandals, including a court case he resolved with the plaintiff, inquiries about his economic affairs and his connection with an alleged foreign agent.

He will remain a royal - but will cease to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his mother, the former monarch.

He had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer participated at state occasions. His role now will be even more lessened.

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

Prince Andrew has encountered intense attention over his associations with convicted sex offender the financier, more recently involving questions about when he had truly cut off ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had ended all connections with Epstein after they had been seen together in the city in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later came to light indicating that the prince had privately continued in contact with him, for example sending a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in the monarchy at the controversies that persisted to envelop the prince.

Soon a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is likely to cast further focus on the royal's involvement with Ms Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.