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Prince Andrew is relinquishing his titles, among them the Duke of York, he has declared in a individual message.

He has been under mounting pressure over his associations with convicted criminal the financier, with calls for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now appears to have caused the prince deciding to willingly hand back his designations and to relinquish membership of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "firmly dispute the allegations against me".

"In talks with the King, and my close and wider family, we have agreed the ongoing accusations about me distract from the responsibilities of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

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

"With the monarch's agreement, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my designation or the distinctions which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I strongly dispute the claims against me."

The royal has been involved in a number of controversies, such as a lawsuit he ended with an accuser, questions about his money matters and his involvement with an accused foreign agent.

He will remain a member of royalty - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a honor bestowed from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his royal style and no longer participated at public engagements. His status now will be even more reduced.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their daughters will continue to have the honor of princesses.

Prince Andrew has encountered intense examination over his associations with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more lately including inquiries about when he had truly cut off communication.

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

But emails sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that he had in private remained in touch with Epstein, including swapping a communication: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the issues that persisted to envelop the royal.

Soon a book released after death by Giuffre will be released which is expected to cast further scrutiny on Prince Andrew's connection with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.