Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded nearly two decades ago to support young people affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa, following a major internal conflict.
The Duke of Sussex, along with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, announced their resignation in a joint statement on Tuesday, citing an irreparable breakdown in relations with the charity’s board chair, Sophie Chandauka.
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries,” their statement read.
The dispute has led to the resignation of several trustees, who had also demanded Chandauka’s removal. However, Chandauka, who was appointed in 2023, claimed she was being targeted for raising concerns over the charity’s governance.
“This 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, and the cover-up that ensued,” Chandauka stated.
She has since taken legal action, reporting trustees to the UK’s Charity Commission and filing a case with the High Court in London. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso accused Chandauka of suing the charity to retain her position.
The Charity Commission has confirmed it is assessing the governance concerns surrounding Sentebale to determine any necessary regulatory steps.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, Sentebale has stated that it is evolving its mission beyond HIV/AIDS support to broader youth health, wealth, and climate resilience efforts in southern Africa. However, the leadership crisis threatens to overshadow the charity’s future operations.
