Prince Harry is facing intense scrutiny over his leadership and public image following a wave of accusations involving bullying, harassment, and reputational damage at Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of Princess Diana. The controversy has escalated rapidly after the abrupt resignation of Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the organization's chair, who has directly accused the Duke of Sussex of creating a toxic environment.
The scandal came to a head last week when Prince Harry announced he was stepping down from Sentebale "in support of and solidarity with" the board of trustees, who had also resigned. His statement followed a series of disputes with Dr. Chandauka, who offered a sharply different account of the situation.
"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. Chandauka stated. She alleged that beneath the narrative of victimhood was "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 cover-up that ensued."
Dr. Chandauka's criticisms extended beyond governance to what she described as a fundamental reputational liability within the organization. "The number one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patron's brand," she said in a subsequent interview, referring to Prince Harry.
The chairwoman also claimed the charity began to lose donors and corporate sponsors following Harry's and Meghan Markle's relocation to the United States in 2020. She said a financial review she conducted revealed "a significant correlation" between the charity's downturn and "Prince Harry's departure from the U.K. itself." When she raised these concerns, she was told, "It's an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room."
Allegations have further intensified with new details about a separate dispute between Prince Harry and Dr. Chandauka after an April 2024 polo event in Florida. A viral video from the event showed Meghan Markle repositioning Dr. Chandauka during the trophy ceremony, sparking public speculation. According to Dr. Chandauka, Meghan's presence was unexpected-she arrived with Serena Williams and a Netflix crew despite initially stating she would not attend-causing logistical confusion on stage.
When Dr. Chandauka declined a request from Harry's team to publicly defend Meghan, she said Prince Harry sent her a personal message demanding an explanation. Sources described the note as "imperious" and "unpleasant," leaving her visibly distressed.
Dr. Chandauka said Harry "wanted to eject her" from the charity and pursued this goal "through bullying, harassment. I have documentation." She added that his public statement about stepping down from Sentebale without consulting her was "an example of harassment and bullying at scale."
A source close to the former trustees called the allegations "completely baseless," denying that Prince Harry or his team had bullied or harassed Dr. Chandauka or targeted her through press briefings. However, the public damage to Harry's reputation may already be substantial.
"Harry's brand has taken a real hit, he would not have expected such a fallout," one source told RadarOnline.com. "Now he's desperately trying to salvage his reputation over fear the row could tarnish future deals and endorsements."
The situation mirrors past controversies, including previous accusations of bullying against Meghan Markle, which both she and Prince Harry have denied. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that the fallout represents a significant blow for Harry.
