Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Prince Andrew is to give up his titles, including the Duke of York, he has announced in a personal statement.

He has been under increasing pressure for his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with calls for the Palace to take action against him.

That now seems to have resulted in the prince deciding to voluntarily hand back his titles and to give up membership of the Order of the Garter.

Prince Andrew has faced a series of scandals, including a court case he settled with Virginia Giuffre, questions about his finances and his involvement with an alleged Chinese spy.

He will remain a prince - but will cease to be the Duke of York, a title received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Prince Andrew's ex-wife will now be known as Sarah Ferguson and no longer as Duchess of York.

She had the use of the title after the divorce, but with Prince Andrew no longer using the title Duke of York she will cease to be known as a duchess.

Daniela Relph
Senior royal correspondent

The statement from Prince Andrew is short and concise.

It is not conciliatory in its tone. There is no apology.

But he recognises the distraction he has become.

The details of any discussions he has had with his older brother, the King, have not been revealed but it would be safe to say the current situation was unsustainable and something had to change.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

The royals are being decisive after months of scandal.

Prince Andrew's loss of the use of his titles is taking immediate effect.

It's also confirmed that he won't be spending Christmas with the Royal Family in Sandringham.

But he is still expected to stay in his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, on which he has his own private lease which runs until 2078.

He will remain a prince, a title he has had from birth as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Daniela Relph
Senior royal correspondent

In a long line of public humiliations – this is yet another and the most significant.

Prince Andrew had already lost his role as a working royal as well as his military titles and position at virtually all public events involving the Royal Family.

But now the titles of which he was so proud go too – the Duke of York and the Order of the Garter.

The pomp and ceremony of royal life mattered to him. His titles gave him an immense sense of personal pride.

But the drip feed of allegations and bad headlines was never-ending.

It was an endless distraction – taking attention away from the work of other members of the Royal Family.

Image source, Getty Images

Prince Andrew's children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles, the BBC understands.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Prince Andrew had already ceased to be a "working royal" and had lost the use of his HRH title.

Andrew has faced intense scrutiny over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including questions about when he had really cut off contact.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew had said that he had severed all links with Epstein after they had been photographed together in New York in December 2010.

But emails sent months later emerged suggesting that Andrew had privately stayed in touch with Epstein, including swapping a message: "Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!"

In his statement, Prince Andrew says he "vigorously den[ies] the accusations against me".

Let's bring you the full statement:

"In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.

"I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further.

"I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.

"As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew will renounce his titles, including the Duke of York, he announces in a statement.

This is a developing story - stick with us as we bring you the latest.