Prince Harry said he was “in shock” after resigning as a patron of Sentebale, an African charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago to assist young individuals with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The Duke of Sussex said the rationale for his resignation was as a consequence of conflict between members of the board and Sophie Chandauka, the chair of the board who refused to step down and sued the charity to be able to retain her position, based on The Times.
Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, (centre); Nacho Figueras, Sentebale ambassador (left), and Prince Harry, co-founding patron of Sentebale, pose for a photograph throughout the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12, 2023 in Singapore.
Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Sentebale
Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 after he hung out working at an orphanage in Lesotho during a spot 12 months.
Prince Seeiso and the board of trustees have also joined Harry in leaving Sentebale following the breakdown of the connection between board members and Chandauka.
In a joint statement, the princes said, “What’s transpired is unthinkable. We’re in shock that we’ve got to do that, but we’ve got a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will likely be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this got here about.”
“Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honor of our moms. Sentebale means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it’s what we’ve all the time promised for the young people we’ve served through this charity. Today isn’t any different.”
“With heavy hearts, we’ve got resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who’ve needed to do the identical,” they continued. “It’s devastating that the connection between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”
“These trustees acted in the most effective interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down while keeping the well-being of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to stay on this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship,” the princes’ statement continued.
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Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso thanked the trustees for his or her “service over time” and said they’re “truly heartbroken they’ve needed to follow through with this act.”
“Although we may now not be patrons, we’ll all the time be its founders, and we’ll always remember what this charity is able to achieving when it’s in the suitable care,” they concluded.
Chandauka said she had reported Sentebale’s trustees to the Charity Commission, a government department within the U.K. that regulates philanthropic organizations, and had filed papers in a British court to stop her removal.
In a press release, she made allegations of misconduct on the charity without naming anyone.
“There are people on this world who behave as if they’re above the law and mistreat people, after which play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm individuals who have the courage to challenge their conduct,” Chandauka said.
This, she said, was the “story of a girl who dared to blow the whistle about problems with poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir — and the cover-up that ensued.”
BBC reported that the Charity Commission said it was “aware of concerns concerning the governance” of Sentebale, which is registered within the U.K.
“We’re assessing the problems to find out the suitable regulatory steps,” they added.
After Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso announced their resignation, Sentebale shared a press release on social media to let their followers know that “the work continues because they deserve nothing less.”
“It’s the incredible teams on the bottom — our staff and native partners — who bring our mission to life each day, walking alongside the kids and young people we serve,” the statement began.
“While Trustees are key for governance and regulation, and Patrons — especially Founders — are an honour to have, it’s the people in the sphere who’re advancing the work, irrespective of what,” the statement continued. “Our commitment to supporting youth in Southern Africa with higher health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience stays as strong as ever.”
Prince Harry last visited Sentebale in Lesotho in October 2024, when he hung out talking with young people and others connected to the charity around a campfire.
“You may not all the time realize how significant your influence is, but when it changes even one person’s life, it’s value it,” he told them on the event.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks at a welcome event at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre, featuring the non-profit’s Let Youth Lead advocates from Botswana and a celebration of Basatho culture on Oct. 1, 2024, in Maseru, Lesotho.
Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale
The Duke of Sussex publicly stepped back from the Royal Family in January 2020 and delivered a speech to handle the choice at a charity dinner for Sentebale.
“Thanks for being here for Sentebale, a charity me and Prince Seeiso created back in 2006 to honour my mother’s legacy in supporting those effected by HIV and AIDS,” he began.
He said he first visited Lesotho in 2004 and was “shown around by my dear friend Prince Seeiso.”
“Struck by the hardship and challenges so many children faced, and with the support of local partners, we arrange Sentebale two years later,” Prince Harry said.
“For the reason that starting, we’ve developed a series of programs and created the purpose-built Mamahato centre to assist a generation of kids break through the stigma that’s allowing the HIV epidemic to thrive. Half of those children had lost either one or each of their parents to the virus.”
He added that the clubs, camps and programs across Lesotho and Botswana “help children and young adults to learn that they’ll go on to live comfortable and productive lives, despite being HIV positive.”
— With files from The Associated Press
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