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The royal is relinquishing his designations, including the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under growing pressure over his connections with disgraced financier the financier, with demands for the monarchy to take action against him.

That now looks to have led to the prince deciding to of his own accord return his designations and to relinquish involvement of the Garter Order.

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

"In talks with the monarch, and my immediate and extended family, we have decided the ongoing claims about me distract from the duties of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a statement from the royal.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my relatives and country first.

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

"With the monarch's approval, we believe I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I firmly refute the allegations against me."

Prince Andrew has been involved in a number of issues, including a lawsuit he ended with Virginia Giuffre, doubts about his money matters and his involvement with an alleged foreign agent.

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

The prince had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer participated at public engagements. His status now will be even more diminished.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their children will persist to have the title of royal princess.

The royal has been under severe attention over his links with convicted sex offender Epstein, more lately featuring questions about when he had actually cut off communication.

In his media discussion, the royal 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 messages sent in early 2011 later came to light indicating that he had confidentially stayed in contact with Epstein, including swapping a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in the royal household at the controversies that continued to envelop the prince.

In the coming days a late publication by the accuser will be published which is anticipated to bring more scrutiny on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and Epstein.