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Prince Andrew is surrendering his designations, including the York's Duke, he has announced in a individual message.

He has been under growing attention over his connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the Palace to take action against him.

That now looks to have led to the royal deciding to willingly return his designations and to relinquish involvement of the prestigious order.

In his message he said he continued to "vigorously dispute the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the King, and my immediate and broader family, we have decided the ongoing accusations about me divert from the duties of the monarch and the monarchy," said a message from Prince Andrew.

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

"I uphold my resolution five years ago to stand back from official duties.

"With the monarch's approval, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a series of scandals, such as a legal case he settled with the plaintiff, inquiries about his money matters and his connection with an suspected foreign agent.

He will remain a prince - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a honor bestowed from his parent, the former monarch.

He had already ceased to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at state occasions. His status now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer York's Duchess, but their children will carry on to have the title of royal princess.

The royal has been under severe scrutiny over his connections with convicted sex offender the financier, more recently featuring inquiries about when he had really severed ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had ended all links with the financier after they had been seen together in the city in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in the following year later came to light indicating that Andrew had in private continued in communication with him, for example sending a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in the monarchy at the controversies that continued to surround the royal.

Next week a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is anticipated to cast more scrutiny on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and the financier.