Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, following a bitter leadership dispute.
Established in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Sentebale was created to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. However, tensions have risen between the UK-registered charity’s trustees and board chair Sophie Chandauka, who was appointed in 2023.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, Harry and Seeiso announced their resignations, citing an irreparable breakdown in relations.
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries,” the statement read.
Several trustees had already resigned and called for Chandauka to step down. While the exact cause of the rift remains unclear, Chandauka claimed she faced retaliation after raising concerns about the charity’s governance.
She alleged that her efforts to highlight issues such as poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, and harassment led to a cover-up attempt. Chandauka stated that she reported the trustees to the UK’s Charity Commission and took legal action in the High Court in London.
Sentebale, in a statement to AFP, confirmed it had not yet received formal resignations but acknowledged the charity was evolving to address broader issues, including youth health, economic empowerment, and climate resilience across Southern Africa.
Harry and Seeiso accused Chandauka of suing the charity to retain her position after trustees requested her resignation. They also expressed their intention to report their concerns to the Charity Commission.
The regulator confirmed to AFP that it is aware of governance concerns within Sentebale and is currently assessing the situation to determine the necessary regulatory steps.
