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The royal is giving up his titles, among them the the Duke, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his links with convicted criminal Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take measures against him.

That now appears to have led to the prince deciding to of his own accord give up his titles and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

In his announcement he said he continued to "vigorously dispute the accusations against me".

"In discussion with the monarch, and my immediate and broader family, we have agreed the persistent allegations about me distract from the duties of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a message from him.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and land first.

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

"With the monarch's agreement, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously refute the accusations against me."

The royal has been involved in a number of controversies, including a legal case he settled with the plaintiff, questions about his economic affairs and his connection with an suspected foreign agent.

He will stay a prince - but will cease to be the the Duke, a title received from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer participated at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their daughters will persist to have the designation of princesses.

The royal has been under intense examination over his links with convicted sex offender the financier, more lately involving inquiries about when he had truly ended communication.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been photographed together in New York in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later emerged implying that the prince had privately stayed in touch with Epstein, for example swapping a note: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that persisted to surround the prince.

Soon a book released after death by the accuser will be published which is likely to cast more attention on the royal's association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.