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Prince Andrew is surrendering his designations, such as the York's Duke, he has announced in a personal statement.

He has been under growing attention over his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now looks to have caused the royal deciding to willingly hand back his designations and to give up membership of the prestigious order.

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

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

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.

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

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

The royal has faced a number of issues, including a court case he resolved with an accuser, doubts about his money matters and his involvement with an accused intelligence operative.

He will remain a royal - but will cease to be the the Duke, a honor received from his parent, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ended to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at public engagements. His position now will be even more reduced.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will continue to have the honor of princess.

The royal has encountered severe examination over his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more recently including questions about when he had actually ended communication.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had cut off all ties with the financier after they had been seen together in the city in December 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later surfaced implying that he had confidentially continued in touch with Epstein, for example sending a message: "Stay in contact and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the issues that remained to surround the figure.

In the coming days a late publication by Giuffre will be released which is anticipated to bring additional focus on Prince Andrew's association with Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.