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He is surrendering his designations, among them the Duke of York, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under growing pressure over his links with convicted criminal the financier, with calls for the royal household to take measures against him.

That now looks to have resulted in the royal deciding to voluntarily return his titles and to give up membership of the Garter Order.

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

"In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have decided the ongoing allegations about me distract from the duties of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a statement from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my obligation to my family and country first.

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

"With His Majesty's consent, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my designation or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I strongly dispute the allegations against me."

He has faced a number of scandals, including a legal case he ended with the plaintiff, doubts about his money matters and his association with an accused foreign agent.

He will remain a member of royalty - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a designation received from his mother, the former monarch.

Andrew had already ended to be a "working royal" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at state occasions. His role now will be even more diminished.

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

He has been under severe scrutiny over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving inquiries about when he had truly severed communication.

In his media discussion, the royal 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 correspondence sent in early 2011 later emerged implying that he had privately stayed in touch with the financier, for example swapping a note: "Remain connected and we'll meet again soon!"

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

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be issued which is anticipated to cast further scrutiny on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and Epstein.