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He is giving up his designations, among them the York's Duke, he has stated in a individual message.

He has been under mounting attention over his links with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the Palace to take action against him.

That now looks to have led to the prince deciding to willingly give up his honors and to give up involvement of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my immediate and extended family, we have decided the continued allegations about me divert from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a message from him.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and land first.

"I uphold my resolution five years ago to stand back from royal engagements.

"With the King's consent, we think I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my honor or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I firmly refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a number of controversies, including a court case he resolved with the plaintiff, questions about his economic affairs and his connection with an suspected intelligence operative.

He will remain a prince - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a designation granted from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his HRH title and no longer was seen at state occasions. His status now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will carry on to have the honor of royal princess.

The royal has been under severe attention over his associations with disgraced financier Epstein, more in recent times including inquiries about when he had truly severed communication.

In his television appearance, the royal had said that he had cut off all links with the financier after they had been photographed together in NYC in December 2010.

But correspondence sent in the following year later surfaced indicating that he had in private stayed in contact with him, such as sending a note: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing frustration in the monarchy at the scandals that continued to envelop the royal.

In the coming days a late publication by the accuser will be released which is likely to bring more scrutiny on his association with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.