Prince Harry Resigns as Patron of Sentebale
Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 to support young people in Lesotho and Botswana, following a dispute between the board of trustees and its chair, Sophie Chandauka. The Duke of Sussex called the situation "devastating" and "unthinkable," stating that he and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho were left with no choice but to resign. The rift reportedly began when the trustees asked Chandauka to step down, leading her to take legal action to remain in her position.
The conflict has raised concerns about the governance of Sentebale, with both Harry and Seeiso announcing plans to report the matter to the Charity Commission. In response, Chandauka defended her position, claiming she would not be "intimidated" and alleging issues of "poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir." A UK court has issued an injunction preventing her removal. Meanwhile, five former trustees also resigned, citing a loss of confidence in Chandauka and concerns over the legal and financial burden of her lawsuit on the charity.
Though no longer patrons, Harry and Seeiso remain committed to Sentebale’s mission, emphasizing that they "will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care." The Charity Commission has confirmed it is assessing the situation to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.
