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Prince Andrew is surrendering his designations, including the Duke of York, he has declared in a own words.

He has been under increasing scrutiny over his links with convicted criminal the financier, with calls for the monarchy to take steps against him.

That now looks to have caused the prince deciding to of his own accord hand back his titles and to surrender membership of the Order of the Garter.

In his statement he said he continued to "firmly refute the claims against me".

"In discussion with the sovereign, and my direct and broader family, we have decided the persistent allegations about me distract from the responsibilities of the King and the royal household," said a message from him.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my kin and country first.

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

"With His Majesty's approval, we believe I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer hold my designation or the distinctions which have been granted to me. As I have said earlier, I firmly refute the allegations against me."

The royal has encountered a range of scandals, including a court case he ended with an accuser, inquiries about his money matters and his association with an suspected Chinese spy.

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

The prince had already stopped to be a "participating figure" and had given up the use of his royal style and no longer participated at public engagements. His status now will be even more reduced.

His previous partner will be known as Sarah and no longer Duchess of York, but their children will continue to have the honor of princesses.

He has been under strong examination over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more in recent times involving doubts about when he had truly ended ties.

In his media discussion, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all connections with the financier after they had been pictured together in New York in December 2010.

But emails sent in early 2011 later surfaced suggesting that Andrew had privately continued in communication with him, including swapping a note: "Stay in contact and we'll play some more soon!"

There had been mounting annoyance in Buckingham Palace at the controversies that continued to envelop the prince.

Soon a book released after death by Virginia Giuffre will be published which is anticipated to cast further focus on his association with Ms Giuffre and the financier.