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He is giving up his titles, including the the Duke, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, with demands for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now looks to have led to the prince deciding to willingly hand back his designations and to surrender membership of the prestigious order.

In his statement he said he continued to "vigorously refute the accusations against me".

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

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

"I support my resolution five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With His Majesty's consent, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said previously, I vigorously dispute the allegations against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a number of controversies, such as a court case he ended with Virginia Giuffre, inquiries about his finances and his association with an alleged foreign agent.

He will remain a prince - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a title bestowed from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

He had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer was seen at official royal events. His position now will be even more diminished.

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

Prince Andrew has encountered strong attention over his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more lately including inquiries about when he had actually severed communication.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had severed all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in NYC in the end of 2010.

But correspondence sent in the following year later emerged implying that Andrew had in private continued in touch with the financier, for example sending a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in the monarchy at the scandals that persisted to surround the figure.

Next week a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is anticipated to cast more focus on his association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.