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The royal is giving up his designations, among them the York's Duke, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, with requests for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now appears to have caused the royal deciding to willingly give up his titles and to relinquish involvement of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In discussion with the King, and my close and broader family, we have decided the continued claims about me divert from the duties of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a message from the royal.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and land first.

"I uphold my resolution five years ago to withdraw from public life.

"With His Majesty's consent, we believe I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the claims against me."

The royal has faced a range of scandals, such as a court case he settled with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his economic affairs and his connection with an alleged foreign agent.

He will stay a royal - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at official royal events. His status now will be even more diminished.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will carry on to have the designation of princesses.

The royal has been under intense examination over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more recently involving inquiries about when he had actually cut off contact.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all connections with Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later came to light suggesting that the prince had privately stayed in touch with him, including swapping a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in the monarchy at the issues that persisted to surround the figure.

Next week a book released after death by Giuffre will be published which is likely to bring additional scrutiny on his involvement with the plaintiff and the financier.