Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso have stepped down from Sentebale, the charity they co-founded, amid explosive misconduct allegations, internal resignations, and a full-scale governance crisis.
At a Glance
- Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso resign from Sentebale amid claims of misconductBoard member departures spark governance concerns
- Chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka alleges harassment and racial prejudice
- Charity Commission investigates the crisis at Sentebale
Founders Step Down, Board in Disarray
Sentebale, founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso to support children affected by HIV in southern Africa, has been thrown into turmoil. According to the New York Post, both princes resigned as patrons on March 26, citing irreconcilable issues with chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
Their exit followed the resignations of key board members, including Nerissa Naidu and Dr. Margaret Ikpoh, which left the board barely able to meet UK charity governance requirements. This mass departure prompted fears about the charity’s viability moving forward, especially given rising financial and reputational stress.
Dr. Chandauka has accused the board and former patrons of deliberate sabotage, claiming she was subjected to racial and gender-based harassment. As reported by People Magazine, she alleged an orchestrated effort “to force a failure and then come to the rescue,” referring to attempts to undermine her leadership.
Watch GB News’ report on the incident at Prince Harry’s charity plunged into fresh chaos.
Investigation Launched by Charity Commission
The UK Charity Commission has confirmed it is conducting a regulatory compliance case to assess governance issues at Sentebale following Dr. Chandauka’s accusations. These include allegations of misogyny, bullying, and what she terms “misogynoir”—a specific form of bias against Black women. The Commission’s official statement can be found here.
Further controversy surrounds claims that Prince Harry used Sentebale to boost public perception of his wife, Meghan Markle. As detailed by People, insiders allege Harry’s efforts to integrate Meghan into the charity’s public profile caused internal friction and resentment, further deepening divisions.
Multiple sources cited by The Daily Mail and The Sun also claim that Sentebale became an increasingly low priority for Harry after stepping back from royal duties, resulting in deteriorating relations with remaining trustees. These developments reportedly escalated tensions that had been simmering for months.
Future Uncertain, Mission at Risk
Despite the escalating conflict, Sentebale insists it remains committed to its mission. The organization, in a statement shared with the New York Post, thanked departing board members for their service and acknowledged that these are “particularly difficult” times for the charity.
There is also concern that the internal power struggle is undermining Sentebale’s core mission—to honor Princess Diana’s legacy by supporting youth impacted by HIV/AIDS. A spokesperson told People the board hopes that once investigations conclude, Sentebale can stabilize and continue its work across Lesotho and Botswana.
Governance experts told The Times that unless new trustees are appointed quickly and the current inquiry resolves without further reputational damage, Sentebale may face further operational and funding challenges.
With investigations underway and the charity now operating with a skeleton board, its next chapter depends heavily on how it manages the fallout of this very public implosion.
