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Prince Andrew is surrendering his titles, such as the the Duke, he has declared in a personal statement.

He has been under increasing attention over his connections with sex offender Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take measures against him.

That now appears to have resulted in the royal deciding to willingly hand back his honors and to give up membership of the prestigious order.

In his statement he said he continued to "strongly dispute the allegations against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have decided the persistent claims about me divert from the work of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a message from the royal.

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

"I stand by my decision five years ago to withdraw from public life.

"With the monarch's approval, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer hold my title or the awards which have been granted to me. As I have said previously, I vigorously dispute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has encountered a series of controversies, including a legal case he resolved with an accuser, doubts about his economic affairs and his connection with an accused Chinese spy.

He will remain a royal - but will cease to be the Duke of York, a title received from his parent, the former monarch.

The prince had already ended to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at official royal events. His status now will be even more diminished.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer York's Duchess, but their offspring will continue to have the honor of princesses.

He has faced intense attention over his associations with notorious figure the financier, more in recent times featuring doubts about when he had actually cut off ties.

In his media discussion, he had said that he had cut off all connections with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in the city in December 2010.

But messages sent in the following year later emerged implying that Andrew had confidentially continued in communication with the financier, including sending a communication: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing annoyance in the monarchy at the scandals that remained to envelop the figure.

Soon a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be issued which is anticipated to cast further attention on Prince Andrew's connection with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.