Sentebale scandal reignites debate over late Queen Elizabeth’s stance on royal-commercial divide
A royal expert has voiced strong support for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s decision to reject a “half in, half out” royal model, following renewed scrutiny of Prince Harry’s actions during a recent charity event.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, royal author Phil Dampier weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding Harry’s charity Sentebale, where multiple trustees resigned amid reported tensions with Chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
The fallout followed a Miami fundraising polo match last April, where Meghan Markle was seen directing the photo lineup and Prince Harry reportedly brought in a Netflix film crew—an unexpected move that drew criticism from those involved.
“Harry announced that he was going to bring Netflix to this charity fundraiser. And it caused, I think, lots of disturbances,” said host Matt Wilkinson, citing Dr. Chandauka’s concerns.
Dampier linked the incident to Queen Elizabeth’s firm decision in 2020 to block Harry and Meghan’s proposal for a hybrid royal role, which would have allowed them to continue representing the Crown while pursuing commercial ventures.
“She saw the dangers of commercialising the royal family, combining royal duties with business,” Dampier said. “And that’s exactly what happened with this polo match.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who now live in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, continue to navigate life outside the Firm. But the Sentebale incident has once again raised questions about whether the late Queen’s refusal of a dual-role model was a prescient move to protect the integrity of the monarchy.
