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He is surrendering his titles, including the the Duke, he has announced in a individual message.

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with sex offender the financier, with calls for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now looks to have caused the prince deciding to voluntarily give up his honors and to relinquish membership of the prestigious order.

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

"In talks with the monarch, and my direct and broader family, we have concluded the ongoing allegations about me take away from the work of the monarch and the monarchy," said a message from the royal.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my obligation to my family and land first.

"I uphold my decision five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer hold my title or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I strongly refute the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a range of scandals, such as a lawsuit he ended with Virginia Giuffre, doubts about his finances and his connection with an alleged foreign agent.

He will continue to be a member of royalty - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor bestowed from his parent, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had forfeited the use of his royal style and no longer appeared at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will persist to have the designation of princesses.

He has encountered intense scrutiny over his connections with disgraced financier Epstein, more in recent times featuring questions about when he had truly severed contact.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all connections with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in late 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later emerged implying that the prince had in private remained in touch with Epstein, including swapping a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the scandals that continued to surround the prince.

Next week a book released after death by the accuser will be published which is anticipated to draw more focus on Prince Andrew's connection with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.