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Prince Andrew is relinquishing his honors, among them the Duke of York, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under mounting scrutiny over his connections with disgraced financier the financier, with demands for the monarchy to take measures against him.

That now appears to have caused the figure deciding to of his own accord return his designations and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

In his message he said he continued to "vigorously deny the allegations against me".

"In consultation with the monarch, and my direct and broader family, we have decided the ongoing accusations about me take away from the responsibilities of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a statement from the royal.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and land first.

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

"With His Majesty's approval, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my title or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I strongly dispute the accusations against me."

The royal has been involved in a series of scandals, among them a lawsuit he settled with the plaintiff, questions about his money matters and his involvement with an alleged Chinese spy.

He will stay a prince - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a title bestowed from his parent, the Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "participating figure" and had lost the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at public engagements. His role now will be even more lessened.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer Duchess of York, but their offspring will persist to have the title of princesses.

Prince Andrew has encountered severe scrutiny over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times featuring inquiries about when he had really ended contact.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been photographed together in the city in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later surfaced suggesting that the prince had in private continued in communication with Epstein, such as exchanging a communication: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting displeasure in the monarchy at the issues that continued to surround the prince.

In the coming days a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be released which is likely to draw additional attention on his association with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.