Prince Harry resigns from charity he founded amid ‘unthinkable’ dispute
Chairwoman of African charity Sentebale, which Prince Harry set up in honour of his mother, responded with a swipe at those who ‘play the victim card’
The Duke of Sussex has quit as patron of a charity in Africa he set up in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation which he described as “devastating”.
Harry founded charity Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.
But several trustees have left the organisation in a dispute with the chairwoman of the board, Dr Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation.
According to the Times, the dispute arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa.
In a joint statement, the duke and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and said they had resigned as patrons until further notice.
They said: “Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour of our mothers. Sentebale means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it’s what we’ve always promised for the young people we’ve served through this charity.
“Today is no different. With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same.
“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”
They both said they would be “sharing concerns” with the Charity Commission.
“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, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.
In response, Dr Chandauka appeared to criticise the duke for going to the press and “playing the victim card,” and claimed she had blown the whistle on bullying and harassment.
In a statement she said: “There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.”
She also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the High Court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal.
She added: “Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued. I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me.”
During his gap year in 2004, the duke came face-to-face with Aids orphans and other traumatised young people.
The duke visited Lesotho and the prince as recently as last October, where he talked to a group of young people around a campfire about the “massive difference” Sentebale was making.
He was also pictured with Dr Chandauka at a charity polo event in Florida in April 2024 to benefit Sentebale.
Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West also released a statement saying their decision to resign was “devastating” but was the “result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board”.
“We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions. This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity,” the statement said.
Sentebale said it had not received resignations from either of the royal patrons and said the “recalibration of the board is part of Sentebale’s ambitious transformation agenda”.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm the restructuring of our Board on 25 March 2025 to introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate Sentebale’s transformation agenda as announced last year.
“In April 2024, Sentebale signalled its evolution from a development organisation focused on addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, to one that is addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in Southern Africa.”
Harry’s role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit.
With agencies
