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He is relinquishing his designations, including the York's Duke, he has declared in a personal statement.

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

That now seems to have led to the prince deciding to willingly hand back his designations and to surrender participation of the Garter Order.

In his message he said he continued to "firmly refute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the sovereign, and my immediate and broader family, we have decided the ongoing claims about me take away from the responsibilities of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my obligation to my kin and nation first.

"I support my choice five years ago to stand back from royal engagements.

"With the monarch's consent, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said before, I firmly dispute the claims against me."

The royal has faced a range of controversies, such as a legal case he resolved with the plaintiff, doubts about his money matters and his connection with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will stay a prince - but will stop to be the York's Duke, a title received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their daughters will continue to have the designation of royal princess.

The royal has been under intense examination over his links with notorious figure Epstein, more in recent times including inquiries about when he had actually severed contact.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all links with Epstein after they had been seen together in the city in the end of 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later came to light suggesting that the prince had in private continued in communication with the financier, for example sending a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the scandals that continued to plague the figure.

Next week a book released after death by Giuffre will be issued which is likely to bring further scrutiny on Prince Andrew's connection with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.