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Prince Andrew is relinquishing his titles, including the the Duke, he has announced in a individual message.

He has been under growing pressure over his links with sex offender Epstein, with requests for the Palace to take measures against him.

That now seems to have caused the prince deciding to willingly give up his honors and to relinquish involvement of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "vigorously dispute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my direct and extended family, we have decided the ongoing allegations about me distract from the responsibilities of the King and the Royal Family," said a statement from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my family and nation first.

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

"With His Majesty's agreement, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer hold my title or the awards which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I strongly dispute the accusations against me."

The royal has been involved in a series of issues, among them a lawsuit he ended with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his money matters and his involvement with an suspected foreign agent.

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

The prince had already ended to be a "active member" and had lost the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at official royal events. His role now will be even more reduced.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will continue to have the honor of princess.

The royal has faced intense scrutiny over his connections with notorious figure Epstein, more in recent times featuring doubts about when he had really ended communication.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had ended all connections with Epstein after they had been pictured together in the city in December 2010.

But messages sent in early 2011 later surfaced indicating that Andrew had confidentially stayed in contact with Epstein, including sending a note: "Remain connected and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing displeasure in the monarchy at the scandals that continued to plague the figure.

Soon a late publication by the accuser will be released which is anticipated to cast further scrutiny on the royal's involvement with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.