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He is relinquishing his honors, such as the the Duke, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under increasing attention over his associations with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now appears to have resulted in the royal deciding to of his own accord return his honors and to give up membership of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "vigorously deny the accusations against me".

"In talks with the monarch, and my direct and broader family, we have concluded the ongoing accusations about me divert from the work of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a message from him.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my obligation to my kin and nation first.

"I uphold my choice five years ago to step back from official duties.

"With the King's consent, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my honor or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I strongly refute the claims against me."

He has been involved in a range of scandals, among them a legal case he ended with an accuser, doubts about his money matters and his involvement with an suspected Chinese spy.

He will stay a prince - but will cease to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer appeared at official royal events. His position now will be even more diminished.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their children will carry on to have the honor of princesses.

Prince Andrew has been under severe examination over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving inquiries about when he had really cut off ties.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all connections with Epstein after they had been pictured together in the city in December 2010.

But messages sent in the following year later came to light implying that Andrew had confidentially remained in communication with the financier, such as exchanging a message: "Stay in contact and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in the monarchy at the controversies that remained to surround the prince.

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