Prince Andrew relinquishes his title as York's Duke.

The royal is surrendering his designations, such as the the Duke, he has declared in a individual message.

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

That now seems to have caused the royal deciding to voluntarily hand back his titles and to give up involvement of the Garter Order.

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

"In talks with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the persistent claims about me take away from the duties of the King and the Royal Family," said a announcement from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my kin and land first.

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

"With the monarch's consent, we think I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously refute the allegations against me."

The royal has faced a number of controversies, including a legal case he ended with an accuser, questions about his economic affairs and his connection with an suspected Chinese spy.

He will continue to be a royal - but will stop to be the the Duke, a designation received from his the late Queen, the Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew had already ended to be a "active member" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at public engagements. His role now will be even more diminished.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their children will continue to have the designation of princess.

Prince Andrew has encountered intense attention over his links with notorious figure the financier, more lately involving inquiries about when he had really ended communication.

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

But correspondence sent in the following year later emerged suggesting that the prince had confidentially remained in communication with Epstein, for example sending a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been increasing displeasure in the monarchy at the controversies that persisted to envelop the royal.

Soon a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre will be issued which is expected to draw more scrutiny on Prince Andrew's association with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.