The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has announced his resignation as a patron of Sentebale, the Lesotho-based charity he co-founded, following a breakdown in the relationship between the charity’s board of trustees and its chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped down alongside the charity’s trustees after a dispute over governance issues, which led Dr. Chandauka to sue the charity when asked to resign.
Dr. Chandauka has reported the charity to the UK Charity Commission, alleging “abuse of power” and “harassment” within the organization. She stated that her actions were aimed at protecting the integrity of Sentebale. The Charity Commission has acknowledged concerns about the charity’s governance and is investigating the situation.
Sentebale was established in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso with the aim of addressing the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people in Lesotho and Botswana. In a joint statement, the princes expressed deep regret over their decision to step down, highlighting the untenable situation created by the breakdown in relations between the chair and the trustees. They also expressed their solidarity with the board, which had been forced to resign due to the legal and financial burden of Dr. Chandauka’s legal action.
Former trustees, including Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr. Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West, stated that they were left with no choice but to resign for the charity’s best interest. They emphasized that their decision was heartbreaking but necessary to prevent further damage to the organization.
Dr. Chandauka defended her actions, describing her work at Sentebale as rooted in fairness and equitable treatment. She accused some individuals of mistreating others while playing the victim and using the press to discredit those who challenged their behavior. She also alleged issues of poor governance, bullying, harassment, and misogyny within the charity.
The charity itself has confirmed a restructuring of its board, aiming to bring in new experts to support its transformation agenda. The organization also outlined plans to shift from focusing solely on HIV and AIDS to addressing broader youth health, wealth, and climate resilience issues in Southern Africa. The Charity Commission continues to assess the situation and determine the appropriate regulatory steps.