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Prince Andrew is giving up his designations, including the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his associations with disgraced financier the financier, with calls for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to of his own accord give up his designations and to surrender participation of the prestigious order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly deny the allegations against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the continued claims about me distract from the responsibilities of the King and the Royal Family," said a message from the royal.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my family and nation first.

"I support my choice five years ago to stand back from royal engagements.

"With the monarch's agreement, we feel 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 refute the accusations against me."

He has been involved in a number of scandals, among them a court case he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, doubts about his economic affairs and his connection with an accused Chinese spy.

He will remain a prince - but will stop to be the York's Duke, a designation bestowed from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at public engagements. His role now will be even more diminished.

His previous partner will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will carry on to have the title of princess.

Prince Andrew has been under strong examination over his links with notorious figure Epstein, more recently including questions about when he had truly ended ties.

In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had cut off all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in New York in the end of 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later emerged indicating that Andrew had confidentially stayed in contact with Epstein, including sending a message: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been growing frustration in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that continued to envelop the prince.

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be published which is anticipated to cast further scrutiny on Prince Andrew's connection with the plaintiff and the financier.