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Prince Andrew is relinquishing his titles, such as the Duke of York, he has declared in a personal statement.

He has been under growing pressure over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now seems to have resulted in the prince deciding to voluntarily give up his honors and to give up participation of the Garter Order.

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

"In talks with the King, and my immediate and broader family, we have decided the ongoing allegations about me divert from the work of the monarch and the Royal Family," said a message from Prince Andrew.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my kin and nation first.

"I support my resolution five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With the monarch's agreement, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer use my title or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said earlier, I strongly refute the claims against me."

The royal has faced a range of controversies, among them a legal case he settled with an accuser, inquiries about his economic affairs and his association with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will stay a royal - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a designation bestowed from his parent, the former monarch.

He had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer was seen at official royal events. His role now will be even more reduced.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will continue to have the designation of princess.

He has encountered strong attention over his associations with convicted sex offender Epstein, more recently involving inquiries about when he had really cut off communication.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all connections with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in the city in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later surfaced suggesting that Andrew had confidentially stayed in communication with the financier, such as sending a communication: "Remain connected and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been growing frustration in the monarchy at the issues that remained to plague the royal.

Next week a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be published which is expected to bring further scrutiny on Prince Andrew's involvement with Virginia Giuffre and the financier.