Prince Andrew gives up his honor as Duke of York.

The royal is surrendering his honors, among them the the Duke, he has stated in a own words.

He has been under increasing pressure over his links with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now looks to have led to the figure deciding to willingly give up his titles and to give up involvement of the Garter Order.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly refute the accusations against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my close and broader family, we have agreed the continued allegations about me divert from the duties of the King and the monarchy," said a announcement from him.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my obligation to my relatives and land first.

"I uphold my choice five years ago to withdraw from public life.

"With the monarch's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said previously, I firmly deny the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a series of issues, including a court case he ended with the plaintiff, questions about his economic affairs and his involvement with an accused intelligence operative.

He will stay a prince - but will discontinue to be the the Duke, a designation received from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped 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 status now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer Duchess of York, but their offspring will continue to have the designation of princess.

The royal has faced strong scrutiny over his links with convicted sex offender Epstein, more lately featuring questions about when he had actually severed communication.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all connections with the financier after they had been pictured together in the city in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that the prince had in private remained in touch with Epstein, for example swapping a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in the monarchy at the scandals that persisted to envelop the figure.

In the coming days a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be published which is likely to draw further attention on the royal's association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.