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He is surrendering his designations, among them the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under increasing pressure over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now seems to have resulted in the royal deciding to of his own accord give up his titles and to surrender involvement of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly deny the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have concluded the ongoing claims about me distract from the responsibilities of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

"I stand by my choice five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With the monarch's approval, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer use my designation or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I strongly deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a range of scandals, including a legal case he resolved with the plaintiff, doubts about his finances and his connection with an accused Chinese spy.

He will stay a member of royalty - but will discontinue to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his parent, the former monarch.

The prince had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their offspring will continue to have the designation of princess.

Prince Andrew has encountered intense examination over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving questions about when he had truly ended contact.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in New York in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later surfaced suggesting that he had in private stayed in contact with the financier, such as swapping a message: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been mounting displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the issues that continued to surround the prince.

In the coming days a book released after death by Giuffre will be released which is expected to draw more attention on the royal's association with the plaintiff and Epstein.