Prince Harry cut off from charity he co-founded after governance fallout

Arab Times

06-08-2025

LONDON, Aug 6: The Duke of Sussex has lost control of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his mother, after a governance dispute prompted intervention from the Charity Commission. The regulator criticised all parties involved in the conflict, which it said had played out damagingly in public, and concluded that the current chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, and the board may remain in place.
The commission launched a compliance investigation in March following allegations of harassment and misogyny made by Dr Chandauka, which triggered the resignation of Prince Harry as patron, along with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and several trustees. While the commission found no evidence of widespread or systemic misconduct, it did identify governance failures and issued a regulatory action plan to address them.
The investigation stopped short of escalating to a statutory inquiry, a move that might have forced changes in leadership and created a pathway for Prince Harry's return. Instead, the decision to allow Dr Chandauka to stay signals a definitive break between the Duke and the charity he helped establish to support children living with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry described the charity as a 'deeply personal and transformative mission,' adding that the Prince would now explore new ways to support vulnerable children in the region. A friend of the Duke said he sees no path back to Sentebale following the outcome.
The conflict reportedly began over disagreements regarding fundraising strategy, including allegations that Dr Chandauka authorised spending £500,000 on consultants to attract U.S. donors, a claim she denies. Following her refusal to resign, she pursued legal action against the charity and filed complaints with the Charity Commission, citing bullying, harassment, misogyny, and "misogynoir"—a specific form of bias against Black women.
Although the watchdog did not find evidence supporting those claims, it acknowledged that several individuals involved felt mistreated and said the situation had a personal impact. The Commission criticised all parties for failing to resolve their disputes internally and for allowing the charity's reputation to suffer in the public eye.
The report also noted that governance structures within the organisation were unclear and allowed misunderstandings to escalate. Delegation of authority to the chair was described as 'confusing, convoluted and poorly governed.' Additionally, the trustees at the time were found to lack proper internal policies, including a formal complaints procedure.
The commission further criticised public comments made during television interviews and in the media, stating they were not conducted in a manner that served Sentebale's best interests.
In one such interview, Dr Chandauka referenced a widely shared incident during a charity polo match in Miami, where the Duchess of Sussex appeared to ask her to change positions during the prize-giving ceremony. The moment drew media scrutiny and contributed to rising tensions. Dr Chandauka later said she declined a request from the Duke to issue a statement supporting the Duchess, arguing that the charity should not be seen as an extension of the Sussexes.
She also claimed that fundraising efforts became increasingly difficult amid growing tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Family, adding that she felt targeted by what she called the 'Sussex machine.'
The commission found no evidence of overreach by Prince Harry in his role as patron, but it did fault the charity's lack of clarity regarding his responsibilities and the overall delegation of roles.
Following its investigation, the regulator issued a regulatory action plan to the current board, which includes newly appointed trustees whom it deemed 'validly appointed.' Sentebale was also advised to clarify the patron role in writing and improve its internal processes to ensure disputes are managed effectively.
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said the situation represented a failure of governance that ultimately harmed the charity's reputation and its ability to serve beneficiaries. 'This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities' ability to deliver for their cause,' he said.
Holdsworth emphasised that passion for a cause can become counterproductive when not supported by strong governance, urging all involved to refocus on the needs of the children the charity was created to support.
Sentebale's latest financial report for the year ending August 31, 2023, shows an income of £3.4 million against expenditures of £3.78 million. Prince Harry contributed £1.2 million to the charity from the proceeds of his memoir, Spare, published in 2023.