Prince Harry greets supporters during a public appearance at Government House in Melbourne, Australia.
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Prince Harry has decided to step away from Sentebale, the charity he created in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, following a major internal dispute over leadership and allegations of misconduct.
Why did Prince Harry quit his charity?
Prince Harry founded Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, aiming to help young people affected by HIV and AIDS across Southern Africa. Recently, however, tensions have exploded between the trustees and the charity’s chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, causing Harry and several trustees to resign.
Dr Chandauka was asked to step down but instead chose to fight back with legal action, claiming she was unfairly targeted after raising concerns about bullying, sexism, racism, and abuses of power within the charity. She has also reported the trustees to the UK Charity Commission, positioning herself as a whistleblower calling for greater accountability.
Prince Harry and trustees resign amid sentebale legal battle
Harry and Prince Seeiso described their decision to leave as heartbreaking but necessary, supporting the trustees who believe Dr Chandauka’s legal challenge has deepened divisions beyond repair. They insist their attempt to remove her was in Sentebale’s best interests, although it sadly led to further conflict.
Trustees like Timothy Boucher and Mark Dyer say Dr Chandauka’s refusal to leave peacefully forced their hand, leaving them no choice but resignation to protect Sentebale from expensive legal battles it simply can’t afford.
Sentebale’s future uncertain following Prince Harry’s departure
Despite the chaos, Sentebale says it hasn’t yet officially received resignations from its royal founders but acknowledges a board reshuffle is underway. The charity plans to recruit new members with the expertise needed for its ambitious future goals.
The Charity Commission is now reviewing the concerns raised to decide if further action is required. Dr Chandauka, meanwhile, confirmed her legal case will be heard by the High Court.
This saga could have lasting impacts, potentially reshaping Sentebale’s future work helping vulnerable youth in Southern Africa.
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