London: Prince Andrew says he is giving up his royal title of the Duke of York and other honours after his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein returned to the headlines.

The younger brother of King Charles III said he and the royal family had decided “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family,” Prince Andrew said in a statement on Saturday (AEDT) released by Buckingham Palace.

Prince Andrew has bowed out of all but a few remaining public appearances. Credit: AP

“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,” Andrew said.

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

“As I

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