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The royal is surrendering his honors, among them the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

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

That now appears to have led to the prince deciding to voluntarily hand back his designations and to give up membership of the Garter Order.

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

"In talks with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have concluded the persistent accusations about me divert from the duties of the monarch and the monarchy," said a statement from him.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my obligation to my relatives and land first.

"I support my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer use my designation or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said before, I firmly refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has encountered a range of controversies, among them a lawsuit he resolved with the plaintiff, inquiries about his economic affairs and his involvement with an alleged foreign agent.

He will stay a prince - but will stop to be the Duke of York, a title granted from his mother, the Queen Elizabeth II.

The prince had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at state occasions. His status now will be even more reduced.

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

He has been under severe examination over his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving questions about when he had actually severed communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, the royal had said that he had cut off all links with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in December 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later surfaced implying that Andrew had privately remained in contact with Epstein, for example sending a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing annoyance in the monarchy at the issues that continued to envelop the figure.

In the coming days a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is expected to cast additional attention on the royal's connection with Ms Giuffre and the financier.