The Duke of York gives up his title as Duke of York.
He is relinquishing his honors, among them the the Duke, he has announced in a own words.
He has been under growing attention over his associations with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with demands for the royal household to take steps against him.
That now looks to have resulted in the figure deciding to willingly give up his honors and to relinquish participation of the prestigious order.
In his announcement he said he continued to "strongly refute the allegations against me".
"In consultation with the sovereign, and my direct and wider family, we have decided the ongoing accusations about me distract from the duties of the monarch and the royal household," said a message from Prince Andrew.
"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.
"I support my decision five years ago to stand back from official duties.
"With the monarch's agreement, we believe I must now go a further step. I will therefore no longer hold my honor or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said previously, I strongly dispute the claims against me."
He has faced a series of controversies, such as a court case he resolved with an accuser, doubts about his money matters and his connection with an accused intelligence operative.
He will continue to be a prince - but will cease to be the York's Duke, a designation granted from his the late Queen, the former monarch.
The prince had already ended to be a "active member" and had forfeited the use of his HRH title and no longer participated at official royal events. His role now will be even more diminished.
His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer the Duchess, but their children will persist to have the title of princesses.
Prince Andrew has faced intense examination over his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more recently involving questions about when he had truly ended communication.
In his media discussion, he had said that he had ended all links with the financier after they had been photographed together in the city in the end of 2010.
But emails sent in February 2011 later came to light suggesting that the prince had in private remained in contact with Epstein, such as sending a note: "Stay in contact and we'll have further interactions soon!"
There had been growing annoyance in the monarchy at the controversies that persisted to plague the royal.
Soon a late publication by the accuser will be published which is expected to cast more attention on his association with Ms Giuffre and Epstein.
