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The royal is relinquishing his designations, such as the Duke of York, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting attention over his associations with convicted criminal the financier, with demands for the Palace to take action against him.

That now appears to have led to the prince deciding to willingly return his designations and to surrender involvement of the prestigious order.

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

"In consultation with the monarch, and my close and wider family, we have concluded the persistent claims about me distract from the work of the King and the monarchy," said a announcement from him.

"I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and land first.

"I support my resolution five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With the monarch's consent, we believe I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the distinctions which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the claims against me."

He has encountered a series of controversies, such as a lawsuit he settled with Virginia Giuffre, doubts about his money matters and his connection with an alleged intelligence operative.

He will continue to be a prince - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor granted from his the late Queen, the former monarch.

The prince had already stopped to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his royal style and no longer participated at state occasions. His status now will be even more reduced.

His former spouse will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer Duchess of York, but their children will persist to have the honor of princesses.

He has been under strong scrutiny over his links with disgraced financier Epstein, more lately featuring inquiries about when he had truly cut off ties.

In his media discussion, he had said that he had cut off all ties with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been pictured together in New York in December 2010.

But emails sent in the following year later came to light suggesting that the prince had confidentially stayed in contact with Epstein, including sending a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing frustration in the monarchy at the controversies that persisted to envelop the prince.

Soon a book released after death by Giuffre will be released which is expected to bring additional focus on the royal's connection with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.