The Duke of York relinquishes his honor as Duke of York.
He is relinquishing his honors, such as the York's Duke, he has announced in a own words.
He has been under mounting scrutiny over his associations with convicted criminal Jeffrey 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 return his titles and to surrender membership of the Garter Order.
In his statement he said he continued to "strongly dispute the allegations against me".
"In consultation with the King, and my immediate and extended family, we have decided the persistent accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the monarchy," said a announcement from him.
"I have opted, as I always have, to put my responsibility to my relatives and country first.
"I support my choice five years ago to withdraw from royal engagements.
"With the monarch's consent, we think I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my title or the distinctions which have been bestowed on me. As I have said before, I vigorously deny the allegations against me."
The royal has been involved in a range of scandals, such as a lawsuit he resolved with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his money matters and his connection with an accused intelligence operative.
He will continue to be a royal - but will discontinue to be the Duke of York, a designation granted from his the late Queen, the late Queen Elizabeth.
The prince had already ended to be a "active member" and had forfeited the use of his HRH title and no longer was seen at official royal events. His status now will be even more diminished.
His former spouse will be known as Sarah and no longer the Duchess, but their offspring will carry on to have the honor of princess.
He has been under severe examination over his connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein, more recently involving inquiries about when he had really ended communication.
In his media discussion, the royal had said that he had severed all connections with Jeffrey Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in December 2010.
But messages sent in early 2011 later emerged implying that he had in private stayed in touch with him, for example exchanging a message: "Remain connected and we'll play some more soon!"
There had been increasing displeasure in the royal household at the issues that remained to envelop the figure.
Next week a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be released which is likely to draw more focus on the royal's connection with the plaintiff and Jeffrey Epstein.
