Sentebale breaks silence as leadership crisis prompts regulatory investigation
Sentebale, the children’s charity co-founded by Prince Harry in memory of his late mother, has issued a public response following the Duke of Sussex’s emotional remarks and the launch of a regulatory probe into the organisation’s leadership.
The controversy began when Harry, Prince Seeiso, and several trustees resigned in protest after chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka refused to step down. Their departures triggered a formal investigation by the Charity Commission into whether Sentebale’s leadership had acted properly.
Breaking its silence, Sentebale’s leadership addressed the unfolding crisis. Dr. Chandauka stated that the charity had already initiated an internal governance review in 2023 and pledged to share its findings with the Commission. “We initiated an internal governance review last year, the findings of which we will share with the Charity Commission,” she said.
Executive Director Carmel Gaillard also responded, noting, “We welcome the clarity this process will bring. Transparency and accountability are central to how we operate.”
The charity’s statement follows Prince Harry’s own sharp comments, in which he described the situation as “heartbreaking” and accused leadership of spreading “blatant lies.” He expressed hope that the inquiry would “unveil the truth” and ensure Sentebale ends up “in the right hands immediately.”
