Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the African HIV/AIDS charity he co-founded nearly two decades ago in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, after a protracted and public fallout with the chair of the board, sparking a broader controversy over governance and accountability within the organization.
The Duke of Sussex announced his resignation in a joint statement with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, citing a breakdown in the relationship between the charity's board of trustees and its chair, Sophie Chandauka, who has launched legal proceedings to retain her position. "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," the two founders said in the statement. "It was with heavy hearts that we have decided to step away."
Harry, 39, established Sentebale in 2006 following a visit to Lesotho during his gap year. The charity, whose name means "forget-me-not" in the local Sesotho language, has focused on youth affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty in southern Africa. The initiative was a deeply personal project for Harry, created in memory of both his mother and Prince Seeiso's late mother, Queen Mamahato.
The dispute erupted into public view after trustees allegedly asked Chandauka to resign. Chandauka responded with a legal challenge and has since issued strong accusations against the board and former patrons. "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," she said in a statement.
Chandauka, who became chair of Sentebale in July 2023, alleged that she had been targeted after raising concerns over internal operations. "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 about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir - and the coverup that ensued," she wrote.
Sentebale stated that it had not yet received formal resignations from either Harry or Prince Seeiso and characterized the situation as part of a broader "recalibration of the board" linked to its "ambitious transformation agenda."
The UK's Charity Commission confirmed that it is reviewing the case. "We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps," the regulator said in a statement.
The turmoil is particularly significant for Prince Harry, who retained Sentebale as one of his few remaining private patronages following his and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from official royal duties in 2020. He has remained closely involved with the organization, including a recent visit to Lesotho in October, where he participated in a fireside conversation with youth about the charity's impact.
Harry and Seeiso emphasized that while they are stepping down as patrons, they remain deeply committed to Sentebale's mission. "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 stated.
