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Prince Andrew is relinquishing his titles, among them the York's Duke, he has announced in a personal statement.

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

That now seems to have led to the prince deciding to willingly return his titles and to surrender participation of the Garter Order.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly refute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the sovereign, and my direct and wider family, we have concluded the ongoing claims about me distract from the work of the monarch and the monarchy," said a announcement from him.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.

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

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said before, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a number of issues, among them a court case he settled with an accuser, inquiries about his money matters and his association with an accused Chinese spy.

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

He had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer appeared at official royal events. His position now will be even more diminished.

His former spouse will be known as Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their offspring will persist to have the honor of princesses.

He has encountered severe scrutiny over his associations with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times including doubts about when he had really ended contact.

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

But emails sent in February 2011 later came to light indicating that he had in private continued in communication with Epstein, for example exchanging a communication: "Remain connected and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been mounting frustration in the monarchy at the issues that remained to envelop the prince.

Next week a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is expected to cast more focus on his association with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.