Prince Andrew surrenders his title as Duke of York.
He is relinquishing his titles, among them the Duke of York, he has stated in a own words.
He has been under increasing scrutiny over his connections with convicted criminal Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take action against him.
That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to willingly hand back his honors and to relinquish membership of the Order of the Garter.
In his announcement he said he continued to "vigorously dispute the claims against me".
"In discussion with the monarch, and my direct and extended family, we have decided the ongoing accusations about me divert from the work of the monarch and the royal household," said a announcement from the royal.
"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and nation first.
"I support my decision five years ago to withdraw from public life.
"With the monarch's consent, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my designation or the honours which have been granted to me. As I have said previously, I vigorously dispute the allegations against me."
He has encountered a series of controversies, among them a legal case he ended with an accuser, doubts about his economic affairs and his involvement with an suspected intelligence operative.
He will stay a member of royalty - but will discontinue to be the York's Duke, a title received from his parent, the Queen Elizabeth II.
Andrew had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his His Royal Highness designation and no longer appeared at state occasions. His role now will be even more reduced.
His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer York's Duchess, but their children will continue to have the honor of princess.
He has faced severe attention over his links with notorious figure Epstein, more recently involving doubts about when he had really cut off ties.
In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in NYC in December 2010.
But messages sent in the following year later came to light suggesting that the prince had in private stayed in contact with the financier, such as swapping a communication: "Remain connected and we'll meet again soon!"
There had been mounting displeasure in the monarchy at the scandals that persisted to envelop the prince.
Soon a posthumous memoir by Giuffre will be issued which is anticipated to bring more scrutiny on Prince Andrew's association with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.
