Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, citing an irreparable breakdown between the board of trustees and the charity’s chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
Shock departure amid leadership dispute
The Duke of Sussex, 40, announced his resignation in a joint statement with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, his co-founder. “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same,” they stated.
Expressing his disappointment, Harry admitted he was “in shock” over the decision, which follows mounting tensions behind closed doors at the charity.
Governance issues at the heart of the crisis
While specific details remain undisclosed, reports suggest the dispute centered around the charity’s fundraising priorities, particularly a shift in focus towards Africa. “What’s transpired is unthinkable,” Harry and Prince Seeiso said in their statement, describing the situation as “devastating.”
Sentebale’s former trustees—Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West—also announced their resignation, citing a “loss in trust and confidence” in the chair of the board.
Chairwoman Dr. Chandauka fights back
In response to the mass resignations, Dr. Chandauka issued a strongly worded statement, rejecting any suggestion that she would be pressured into leaving her position. “For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account,” she said.
She accused the departing trustees of misconduct and an attempt to avoid scrutiny. “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.”
According to Dr. Chandauka, her decision to “blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir” led to the current crisis.
Charity Commission investigates
The UK Charity Commission has confirmed it is reviewing governance concerns at Sentebale. “We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,” a spokesperson told BBC News.
Harry’s departure comes shortly after Sentebale’s CEO, Richard Miller, resigned following five years in the role. His exit followed the resignations of Andrew Tucker, a senior leader at the charity for 10 years, and Baroness Lynda Chalker, who had been a director for 18 years.
The turmoil at Sentebale marks a significant moment for the Duke of Sussex, whose deep connection to the charity was rooted in his personal mission to honor Princess Diana’s legacy by supporting vulnerable children in Africa.
Whether Harry will return to the organization in the future remains uncertain, but his departure signals one of the most serious crises in the charity’s history.