Britain's Prince Andrew, who has come under growing pressure over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has announced that he is giving up his titles, including Duke of York, BNR reported.
There have been increasing calls for Buckingham Palace to take action against Prince Andrew. The BBC commented that this appears to have led to the prince's decision to voluntarily return his titles and renounce his membership in the Order of the Garter - the oldest and highest order of chivalry in Britain.
In his statement, he said that he continues to "vigorously deny the allegations against him". "In discussions with the King, my immediate family and wider family, we have concluded that the ongoing allegations against me are distracting from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Prince Andrew said in a statement. He stressed that he had decided to put his duty to his family and country first, as he has always done.
Andrew's decision to stop using his titles was made in consultation with Prince William, as well as the King, the BBC has learned.
Prince Andrew has faced a series of scandals in recent years, including a court case he settled with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his finances and his closeness to an alleged Chinese spy. He will remain a prince but will cease to be the Duke of York - a title inherited from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.