Prince Harry Resigns as Patron of Sentebale After Bitter Boardroom Dispute

Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, after a serious rift between the charity’s trustees and board chair Sophie Chandauka. The decision marks the end of nearly two decades of involvement in the organization, which was originally established to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later expanded to Botswana. The resignation follows months of internal turmoil, with multiple trustees leaving the organization and demanding Chandauka’s resignation. The charity has yet to officially receive the resignations, but the situation has drawn attention from the UK’s Charity Commission regulator, which is now assessing governance concerns surrounding Sentebale.

A Breakdown Beyond Repair

In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their disappointment, stating that their decision to resign was made with "heavy hearts." They emphasized that the breakdown in relations between the board of trustees and the chair had created an "untenable situation" that left them with no choice but to step down. The statement further highlighted their commitment to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, even as they take a step back from their roles.

The tension within the organization has been mounting for months, with several trustees already leaving their positions due to conflicts with Chandauka, who was appointed as board chair in 2023. The exact details of the dispute remain unclear, but Chandauka has claimed that she was targeted after raising concerns about the charity’s governance. According to her, the situation is emblematic of a deeper issue within the organization’s leadership.

Chandauka’s Allegations and Legal Action

Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, has alleged that she faced backlash after attempting to address what she described as serious governance failures within Sentebale. In her statement, she accused the charity of mismanagement, abuse of power, harassment, misogyny, and even “misogynoir”—a term used to describe misogyny directed specifically at Black women. She framed her decision to remain in her position as a moral stand, stating that this was "not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account."

Chandauka has taken her concerns to the UK Charity Commission, which is now assessing the case. She has also filed a legal challenge in the High Court in London. Meanwhile, Harry and Seeiso accused Chandauka of suing the charity to keep her position after being asked to step down. This legal battle has added to the growing instability within the organization, raising questions about its future governance and direction.

The Future of Sentebale

Despite the turmoil, Sentebale has announced that it is evolving from a development-focused charity addressing HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana to a broader organization tackling youth health, economic empowerment, and climate resilience across Southern Africa. This shift in mission has sparked debate about whether the charity’s original focus is being diluted or if it is simply adapting to changing regional needs.

The charity has yet to confirm Harry and Seeiso’s resignations, but their departure is a significant moment for Sentebale. Prince Harry, who founded the organization in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, has been deeply involved in its work over the years. His personal connection to the cause made him one of its most high-profile advocates, drawing global attention to the plight of young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

A Growing Crisis in Charity Governance

This controversy is just the latest in a series of governance scandals affecting high-profile charities. The involvement of the UK Charity Commission suggests that Sentebale is now under serious scrutiny, with the regulator investigating whether governance failures occurred. Charities depend heavily on public trust, and internal disputes of this nature can damage an organization’s reputation and fundraising efforts.

For Prince Harry, this resignation represents yet another break from institutions that have played a major role in his life. Since stepping down from royal duties in 2020, he has distanced himself from many UK-based organizations, choosing instead to focus on his initiatives in the U.S., including the Archewell Foundation. His departure from Sentebale raises questions about his long-term commitment to charities outside his current base of operations.

The Bigger Picture

The Sentebale crisis reflects broader challenges within the nonprofit sector, where leadership disputes can escalate into public controversies. While internal disagreements are common in any organization, the combination of legal action, allegations of misconduct, and high-profile resignations has turned this into a major governance crisis. If the UK Charity Commission finds evidence of wrongdoing, it could impose regulatory measures or even launch a deeper investigation into Sentebale’s leadership.

At the heart of this dispute is a fundamental question about governance: Who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that charities operate with transparency and accountability? Chandauka’s claims suggest that she believes she was pushed out for speaking up, while Harry and Seeiso’s resignation indicates that they no longer had confidence in the organization’s leadership. These conflicting narratives will likely continue to unfold as the Charity Commission’s inquiry progresses.

Conclusion

Prince Harry’s resignation as patron of Sentebale marks the end of an era for the charity he helped build. What started as a noble mission to support young people with HIV and AIDS has now become embroiled in a bitter governance dispute, with legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny threatening its stability. While Sentebale’s leadership insists that the charity is evolving to address broader issues in Southern Africa, the internal strife raises concerns about how effectively it can carry out its mission.

The coming months will determine the future of Sentebale, as the Charity Commission evaluates the allegations and the legal battle unfolds. For now, one thing is clear: the breakdown of trust within the organization has had profound consequences, leading to the departure of its most high-profile supporter. Whether the charity can recover from this crisis and rebuild its reputation remains to be seen.