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Prince Andrew is surrendering his titles, among them the York's Duke, he has declared in a individual message.

He has been under growing pressure over his connections with convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, with requests for the royal household to take action against him.

That now appears to have led to the prince deciding to of his own accord return his titles and to give up participation of the Order of the Garter.

In his announcement he said he continued to "vigorously deny the allegations against me".

"In consultation with the King, and my immediate and extended family, we have concluded the ongoing accusations about me divert from the work of His Majesty and the royal household," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my obligation to my kin and nation first.

"I stand by my decision five years ago to withdraw from royal engagements.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer use my title or the awards which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I strongly deny the claims against me."

He has encountered a number of controversies, among them a court case he ended with an accuser, questions about his money matters and his association with an suspected foreign agent.

He will remain a royal - but will stop to be the Duke of York, a designation granted from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Andrew had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer appeared at official royal events. His role now will be even more lessened.

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

He has encountered strong attention over his associations with convicted sex offender the financier, more in recent times including doubts about when he had truly cut off communication.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all links with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been photographed together in NYC in late 2010.

But correspondence sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that the prince had privately remained in touch with him, including swapping a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been growing displeasure in Buckingham Palace at the issues that remained to surround the royal.

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be published which is anticipated to cast further scrutiny on his association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.