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Prince Andrew is giving up his titles, such as the York's Duke, he has announced in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting pressure over his connections with sex offender Epstein, with requests for the monarchy to take action against him.

That now looks to have caused the figure deciding to willingly give up his titles and to surrender participation of the prestigious order.

In his message he said he continued to "strongly dispute the allegations against me".

"In talks with the sovereign, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the persistent allegations about me take away from the work of His Majesty and the royal household," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

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

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

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

The royal has faced a range of controversies, among them a court case he ended with the plaintiff, doubts about his economic affairs and his connection with an suspected foreign agent.

He will stay a royal - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a title granted from his mother, the former monarch.

He had already stopped to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer was seen at state occasions. His position now will be even more lessened.

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

The royal has encountered severe examination over his links with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more recently involving doubts about when he had actually severed contact.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all links with the financier after they had been seen together in New York in late 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later surfaced implying that Andrew had confidentially remained in communication with Epstein, such as exchanging a note: "Stay in contact and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the royal household at the controversies that remained to envelop the prince.

Soon a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be issued which is expected to cast further scrutiny on the royal's involvement with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.