Prince Harry and others criticised by charity watchdog for 'damaging' public row

ITV News

2 days ago

A watchdog has found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment at the African charity Prince Harry co-founded, but has criticised him and others for allowing a "damaging" row with the chairwoman to play out in public.
The Charity Commission investigated Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down as its patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned following a dispute with the board of trustees chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka.
The watchdog criticised all parties in the fallout for allowing it to play out publicly and described how all trustees contributed to a 'missed opportunity' to resolve the issues that led to the serious disagreement that risked undermining public trust in charities generally.
Harry's spokesperson attacked the findings, saying the 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'.
Dr Chandauka said: 'The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private.
'We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.'
The fallout came after Sentebale's trustees sought in 2023 to introduce a new fundraising strategy, with the dispute arising between Dr Chandauka and some of the trustees and Harry, said the regulator.
A war of words followed the resignations, with Harry and Seeiso issuing a joint statement in March, describing their decision as 'devastating' and adding they could see 'no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board'.
Dr Chandauka hit back in a television interview, accusing the duke of being 'involved' in a 'cover-up' of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation and said the 'toxicity' of his brand had impacted the charity, which had seen a drop in donors since Harry moved to the US.
The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity, but acknowledged 'the strong perception of ill treatment' felt by some involved.
David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: 'Passion for a cause is the bedrock of volunteering and charity, delivering positive impact for millions of people here at home and abroad every day.
'However, in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness rather than a strength.
'Sentebale's problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity's reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity's ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.'
Harry founded charity Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.