'It is devastating': Prince Harry resigns from his own charity after bitter clash with board chair who now claims organisation is trying to cover up 'bullying'
Prince Harry has resigned from the charity he started nearly two decades ago, following what he described as "unthinkable" turmoil within its leadership - as its chair hits back with explosive claims.
5 | ‘Underestimated’ and ‘overly dismissed’: Netflix boss defends Harry and Meghan |
Prince Harry has resigned from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded nearly two decades ago, amid an extraordinary leadership fallout that has now escalated into a war of words.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, established Sentebale in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, following a gap-year visit to the southern African country in 2004.
In a joint statement obtained by SkyNews.com.au on Wednesday, the two princes confirmed they had stepped down in support of Sentebale's trustees, who recently resigned en masse after tensions erupted with the charity's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka.
5 | Suggestions to bring members of Royal Family to sit in House of Lords |
"What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this," said Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, the younger brother of King Letsie III, in the statement which is yet to be released publicly.
"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.
"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."
Tensions are understood to have emerged following Chandauka's appointment as chair of the board in July 2023.
The Zimbabwean-born corporate finance lawyer and entrepreneur is reportedly suing the former trustees, who had raised concerns over whether she was the right fit for the role.
In a separate joint statement, former Sentebale trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West said they were left with "no other option" but to resign.
"It's desperately sad the breakdown in relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the Chair against the charity to block us from voting her out after our request for her resignation was rejected," they said.
"We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions."
The UK Charity Commission is now understood to be investigating the situation.
On Wednesday, Dr Chandauka hit back, claiming she had been subjected to "abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir", referring to discrimination against Black women.
"I chose to join Sentebale first and foremost as a proud African who understands that, in the spirit of ubuntu: to whom much is given, much is expected," she told The Mail.
"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."
Dr Chandauaka went on to challenge "discerning readers" to consider why she had reported the trustees to the Charity Commission, and "why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?"
"Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle," she said.
Dr Chandauka studied law at Oxford and has held several high-profile leadership roles, including Head of America's Risk Management and Intelligence at Meta.
She is now Executive Chair of US-based biotech firm Nandi Life Sciences, which she co-founded.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said they planned to share "all of our concerns with the Charity Commission" and remain committed to Sentebale's mission, even if they are no longer formal patrons.
"Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care," they said.
The princes added that they believed Sentebale's trustees "acted in the best interest of the charity" by asking Chandauka to step down.
They said her decision to sue the charity to remain in a voluntary position further underscored "the broken relationship."
Sentebale has also seen several leadership changes in recent months, including the departure of CEO Richard Miller in December as part of a shift to a "locally led" model.
He was replaced by Johannesburg-based development expert Carmel Gaillard, who now serves as Interim Executive Director.
Prince Harry founded the charity after witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by children in Lesotho, including those living with HIV/AIDS and mental health difficulties.
Sentebale, meaning “forget me not” in Sesotho, the language of Lesotho, was named in honour of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, whose favourite flower was the forget-me-not.
Diana was widely recognised for her work destigmatising HIV/AIDS and supporting vulnerable communities around the world.
SkyNews.com.au has contacted Dr Chandauka, Sentebale and the UK Charity Commission for further comment.