🔗 Share this article

The royal is giving up his honors, including the the Duke, he has announced in a own words.

He has been under growing scrutiny over his connections with disgraced financier Epstein, with demands for the monarchy to take action against him.

That now seems to have led to the royal deciding to of his own accord give up his designations and to surrender participation of the Garter Order.

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

"In consultation with the King, and my close and extended family, we have decided the persistent allegations about me take away from the work of the monarch and the monarchy," said a message from the royal.

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

"I stand by my decision five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With the monarch's agreement, we think I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously refute the allegations against me."

The royal has faced a series of issues, including a lawsuit he settled with the plaintiff, doubts about his finances and his involvement with an alleged Chinese spy.

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

Andrew had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had forfeited the use of his royal style and no longer participated at official royal events. His status now will be even more diminished.

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

He has faced intense examination over his connections with notorious figure the financier, more recently including inquiries about when he had truly severed ties.

In his television appearance, he had said that he had severed all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in December 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later came to light implying that Andrew had privately continued in communication with him, including exchanging a note: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

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

Next week a late publication by the accuser will be issued which is expected to cast further scrutiny on Prince Andrew's association with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.