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The royal is surrendering his titles, such as the Duke of York, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under growing attention over his connections with convicted criminal the financier, with calls for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now appears to have led to the prince deciding to willingly give up his honors and to surrender participation of the prestigious order.

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

"In consultation with the monarch, and my immediate and broader family, we have agreed the continued accusations about me divert from the duties of the King and the Royal Family," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

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

"With His Majesty's consent, we believe I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer hold my title or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I firmly deny the claims against me."

The royal has encountered a series of controversies, such as a legal case he resolved with an accuser, doubts about his economic affairs and his association with an alleged Chinese spy.

He will stay a member of royalty - but will discontinue to be the Duke of York, a designation granted from his mother, the former monarch.

The prince had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer participated at public engagements. His position now will be even more diminished.

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

Prince Andrew has been under severe examination over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times featuring doubts about when he had truly severed communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, he had said that he had ended all connections with Epstein after they had been photographed together in New York in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later came to light suggesting that he had confidentially stayed in touch with him, including sending a message: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in the royal household at the controversies that persisted to surround the royal.

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be issued which is expected to draw more attention on Prince Andrew's involvement with Ms Giuffre and the financier.