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

He has been under growing attention over his connections with convicted criminal Epstein, with calls for the Palace to take action against him.

That now looks to have caused the figure deciding to voluntarily return his designations and to relinquish participation of the Garter Order.

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

"In discussion with the monarch, and my close and extended family, we have concluded the persistent accusations about me divert from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

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

"I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With the King's consent, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my designation or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I firmly deny the allegations against me."

The royal has faced a range of controversies, among them a court case he ended with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his finances and his involvement with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will remain a prince - but will cease to be the Duke of York, a designation granted from his mother, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ended to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at public engagements. His status now will be even more reduced.

His former spouse will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will persist to have the title of princesses.

Prince Andrew has faced intense attention over his links with convicted sex offender Epstein, more recently involving inquiries about when he had actually cut off ties.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, the royal had said that he had cut off all connections with the financier after they had been seen together in New York in December 2010.

But messages sent in February 2011 later emerged indicating that Andrew had confidentially stayed in communication with the financier, including exchanging a message: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been mounting frustration in Buckingham Palace at the scandals that persisted to surround the prince.

Soon a posthumous memoir by Giuffre will be published which is likely to bring more focus on the royal's connection with Ms Giuffre and the financier.