Britain’s Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded nearly two decades ago, citing a “devastating” breakdown in relations within the organisation. The decision, announced late Tuesday, marks another setback for the Duke of Sussex, who has been living in self-imposed exile since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
Harry and his co-founder, Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, confirmed their resignations in a joint statement, attributing their departure to an irreparable rift between the charity’s board of trustees and chair Sophie Chandauka, who was appointed in 2023.
“With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same,” their statement read. “It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”
Sentebale, established in 2006 in honor of Princess Diana, was created to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later expanded to Botswana. Harry had previously pledged to remain committed to the charity even after his departure from the British royal family, telling supporters in 2020, “We’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.”
However, tensions within the organisation escalated as trustees reportedly requested Chandauka’s resignation, leading to an internal dispute. Chandauka, a Zimbabwean lawyer, alleged she had been targeted after raising concerns about governance issues within the charity, including claims of harassment, misogyny, and racism.
In a statement, Chandauka described the situation as “the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued.”
She also confirmed that she had reported trustees to the UK’s Charity Commission and taken legal action in the High Court in London. Sentebale, in response, said it had not yet received Harry and Seeiso’s resignations but acknowledged an ongoing “recalibration of the board.”
The UK’s Charity Commission confirmed it was “aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale” and was assessing the situation to determine appropriate steps.
In December, the charity announced plans to transition into a “locally led organisation” with a stronger focus on youth health, economic stability, and climate resilience in Southern Africa. As part of this shift, Sentebale relocated its leadership positions from London to Johannesburg.
Harry and Seeiso claimed Chandauka had “sued the charity” in an effort to retain her position after trustees requested her resignation. They also signaled their intent to share their concerns with the Charity Commission.
For Harry, the resignation is significant, as Sentebale was one of the few private patronages he retained after being stripped of his royal and military titles in 2020. The charity’s name, meaning “forget me not” in Sesotho, was chosen as a tribute to Princess Diana and also serves as a farewell phrase—now carrying an added layer of symbolism in light of recent events.
