Prince Harry has stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, after an internal row escalated into legal action and allegations of abuse and misconduct.
The Duke of Sussex, alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the board of trustees, announced their resignation following a complete breakdown in relations with board chair Dr Sophie Chandauka, who refused to step down and instead pursued legal recourse.
A Broken Relationship at the Heart of a Global Cause
Sentebale was established to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa, with a special focus on Lesotho and Botswana. Over the years, the charity evolved into a high-profile international organization, backed by royal patronage.
However, tensions came to a head after trustees requested Dr Chandauka’s resignation — a request she rejected, opting instead to take legal action. In response, the entire board, including the princes, tendered their resignations, citing an “untenable situation.”
In a joint statement, Harry and Seeiso said they were stepping down “with heavy hearts” and expressed support for the board’s decision, adding that legal proceedings made continued cooperation “impossible.”
Whistleblower Claims Rock the Charity
Dr Chandauka, a respected corporate lawyer and MBE honouree for promoting diversity in business, fired back with serious accusations. She claimed she had “blown the whistle” on issues within Sentebale, including:
- Abuse of power
- Bullying and harassment
- Sexism and racism
- “Misogynoir” – a term describing bias against Black women
- Poor governance and a culture of cover-up
“This is the story of a woman who dared to speak out,” she said, accusing others of weaponizing the media to deflect attention from serious concerns.
She confirmed that the High Court has accepted her case, and said she would not resign because Sentebale is “not a vanity project from which I can walk away.”
Charity Commission Steps In
The UK Charity Commission confirmed it is “aware of concerns” surrounding Sentebale’s governance and is “assessing the issues to determine appropriate regulatory steps.”
While the charity says it has not received formal resignation letters from its royal patrons, it confirmed a board restructuring as part of a broader transformation agenda to expand Sentebale’s mission into youth health, wealth, and climate resilience.
What’s Next for Sentebale?
The charity emphasized that it is moving forward with new leadership and a renewed focus. However, the internal fallout, high-profile resignations, and legal case have raised significant concerns about governance, accountability, and trust in nonprofit leadership.
With Prince Harry’s departure, the charity loses not just a co-founder, but its most internationally recognized figurehead.
