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Prince Andrew is surrendering his honors, among them the the Duke, he has announced in a individual message.

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

That now seems to have led to the figure deciding to of his own accord give up his titles and to relinquish involvement of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "firmly dispute the accusations against me".

"In consultation with the sovereign, and my immediate and extended family, we have agreed the ongoing claims about me take away from the work of the monarch and the monarchy," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

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

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

"With the monarch's approval, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said before, I strongly dispute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a series of controversies, among them a lawsuit he settled with an accuser, questions about his economic affairs and his involvement with an accused Chinese spy.

He will continue to be a royal - but will stop to be the the Duke, a title granted from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The prince had already ceased to be a "active member" and had forfeited the use of his HRH title and no longer appeared at state occasions. His status now will be even more reduced.

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

The royal has been under strong scrutiny over his links with notorious figure the financier, more in recent times including questions about when he had actually severed contact.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in NYC in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in early 2011 later came to light suggesting that the prince had confidentially continued in touch with Epstein, such as sending a communication: "Remain connected and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that persisted to envelop the royal.

Soon a posthumous memoir by Giuffre will be released which is anticipated to draw additional attention on Prince Andrew's association with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.