‘Devastated' Prince Harry's late-night calls over charity drama

News.com.au

07-08-2025

IN LONDON
Prince Harry is 'utterly devastated' over the 'hostile takeover' of the Sentebale charity, it's been reported.
This week, the British charity watchdog released its findings into the organisation, which was co-founded by Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, in southern Africa, in 2006 to honour their late mothers.
It revealed a dramatic internal conflict at Sentebale.
'Harry, I am told, is 'utterly devastated,' spending hours on the phone from California to supporters late into the night, raging about a 'hostile takeover' of his 'life's work,' the Daily Mail ' s royal editor, Rebecca English, wrote on Wednesday.
She added that the Duke of Sussex believes Sentebale's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, 'cajoled her way' to her position, and that she 'would rather see the charity 'go down in flames' than admit she is guilty of mismanagement and resign'.
According to English, there is 'no way in hell' Harry 'would ever work with Sentebale again … at least not while Sophie Chandauka and her new stool pigeons [trustees] were in place'.
In its statement on Tuesday, the UK Charity Commission stated that it had found no evidence of 'widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity', as had been alleged, and also no evidence of 'overreach by either the chair or the Duke of Sussex as patron'.
However, the department criticised Sentebale's 'lack of clarity in delegations to the chair which allowed for misunderstandings to occur', and 'all parties' involved for allowing a 'damaging' internal dispute to play out so publicly, thus damaging the charity's reputation.
In March this year, Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho announced they were quitting the charity along with the board of trustees amid an 'untenable' situation with Dr Chandauka.
In a joint statement announcing the decision, Harry and Seeiso said they were 'in shock' and 'truly heartbroken' to be stepping down.
'What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this,' the statement read.
'With heavy hearts, we have resigned for our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees.
'It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair.'
Dr Chandauka then hit back, claiming they had unsuccessfully tried to force her out because she 'dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the cover-up that ensued'.
Following the release of the watchdog's findings, Harry's spokesman said the damage to Sentebale had already been done.
'Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale's Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex,' a statement to Page Six read.
'They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current Chair.
'Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair's actions will not be borne by her — but by the children who rely on Sentebale's support.'
Meanwhile, Dr Chandauka, who remains as head of the charity, insisted they 'are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger'.