Prince Andrew surrenders his designation as Duke of York.

Prince Andrew is giving up his honors, including the Duke of York, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under mounting attention over his links with sex offender Epstein, with calls for the royal household to take steps against him.

That now appears to have resulted in the figure deciding to willingly hand back his honors and to surrender membership of the Order of the Garter.

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

"In consultation with the monarch, and my direct and extended family, we have agreed the ongoing accusations about me take away from the duties of the monarch and the monarchy," said a announcement from the royal.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my kin and land first.

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

"With the King's consent, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said before, I firmly deny the claims against me."

He has been involved in a range of issues, such as a legal case he settled with an accuser, questions about his money matters and his connection with an accused foreign agent.

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

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

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

Prince Andrew has been under strong examination over his connections with notorious figure the financier, more recently including questions about when he had really cut off contact.

In his television appearance, Prince Andrew had said that he had ended all ties with the financier after they had been photographed together in New York in the end of 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later emerged implying that he had privately stayed in communication with Epstein, for example swapping a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll have further interactions soon!"

There had been increasing frustration in the royal household at the scandals that persisted to envelop the figure.

Next week a late publication by Virginia Giuffre will be issued which is expected to draw more scrutiny on Prince Andrew's connection with Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein.