🔗 Share this article

Prince Andrew is giving up his titles, among them the Duke of York, he has declared in a personal statement.

He has been under growing attention over his links with sex offender Epstein, with calls for the Palace to take steps against him.

That now looks to have caused the figure deciding to of his own accord return his designations and to surrender participation of the Order of the Garter.

In his statement he said he continued to "strongly deny the claims against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my immediate and extended family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me divert from the duties of the King and the monarchy," said a message from the royal.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my obligation to my family and nation first.

"I support my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I firmly deny the claims against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a number of scandals, such as a lawsuit he ended with an accuser, inquiries about his money matters and his involvement with an suspected Chinese spy.

He will stay a royal - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a designation received from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at state occasions. His status now will be even more reduced.

His former spouse will be known as Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their daughters will continue to have the designation of royal princess.

The royal has faced intense examination over his connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more lately featuring doubts about when he had really ended communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in December 2010.

But correspondence sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that he had in private remained in contact with him, such as sending a message: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing displeasure in the royal household at the controversies that remained to surround the prince.

In the coming days a book released after death by the accuser will be released which is anticipated to draw more attention on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and Epstein.