Duke of Sussex locked in escalating conflict with former chair of cherished charity
Prince Harry is facing intense scrutiny as a deeply personal dispute within Sentebale—his long-standing charity founded in memory of Princess Diana—spills into the public domain.
The organisation, which supports young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, is now mired in controversy following a dramatic fallout between the Duke of Sussex and the charity’s former chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
In a recent interview reported by Sky News royal correspondent Laura Bundock, Chandauka accused Harry of bullying, harassment, and orchestrating negative briefings during her time as chair. The serious allegations have sparked public concern and raised questions about leadership and conduct behind the scenes.
In response, a source close to the former trustees dismissed the accusations as “completely baseless.” A joint statement issued by Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho painted a very different picture of the situation.
“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 statement said. “These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.”
The escalating dispute has led to Prince Harry’s official resignation from the organisation—a difficult step, given his personal connection to its mission.
As the row continues, concerns have grown over the reputational damage not only to Sentebale but also to Prince Harry himself, whose public image as a dedicated humanitarian may now face lasting consequences.
