Harry left ‘devastated' by boardroom battle at his charity Sentebale
The Duke of Sussex with Sentebale chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, during a fundraising polo match for Sentebale (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA)
Sentebale appeared to suggest allegations made by Dr Chandauka of bullying, harassment and misogyny at the charity – which the commission found no evidence of – may be pursued against individuals through 'avenues more appropriate'.
A source said: 'This has been emotionally absolutely devastating for Prince Harry and (Sentebale co-founder) Prince Seeiso (of Lesotho). What's been perpetrated over the last few months is nothing short of a hostile takeover.'
Seeiso also stepped down as patron of the charity which works in Botswana and Lesotho supporting the health and wellbeing of young people, especially those with HIV and Aids.
The source added: 'You have to remember Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry started this charity nearly two decades ago to honour the work and continue the legacy of their mothers Queen Mamohato and Princess Diana, and the work that they had done in southern Africa to support those living with HIV and Aids.
'In the 19 years that they have worked with this charity, and a lot of the former board of trustee members, they have raised tens of millions of pounds and distributed tens of millions of pounds.'
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned as patron alongside Harry during the boardroom battle (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The commission criticised all parties in the dispute 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 which risked undermining public trust in charities generally.
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.
After conducting its regulatory compliance case the commission issued a Regulatory Action Plan with Sentebale saying it had complied with the steps, from implementing an internal dispute policy to improving the charity's complaints and whistle-blowing procedures.
The trustees who resigned said in a statement they were 'gravely concerned for the future of the charity' adding they were 'disheartened' by the way the regulator had 'chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence raised with them regarding the leadership and oversight of Sentebale's chair'.
Sentebale said in statement: 'The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the commission's responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir etc.
Harry was presented with an embroidered traditional blanket by Lesotho's Prince Seeiso in 2010 (PA)
'As a result, the commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry.
'The issues not investigated by the commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the commission.'
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Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
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Prince Harry could face further action over claims of bullying and misogyny from leaders of African charity he set up
Prince Harry could face further action over claims of bullying and misogyny from the leaders of the African charity he set up. The Charity Commission yesterday revealed that after a bitter boardroom battle at Sentebale it had found 'no evidence of widespread or systematic bullying or harassment including misogyny or misogynoir'. But neither side was satisfied with the final adjudication, which criticised all parties involved, and, although the regulator urged all to be 'mindful to channel their belief in the charity's mission in a constructive and collaborative way', there seems little hope of the row going away. Both camps made serious claims of mismanagement and maladministration against the other. The current chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, accused the Duke of Sussex of waging a campaign of bullying 'at scale' against her. This was strongly denied. The watchdog acknowledged there was a 'strong perception' of ill-treatment by those involved but it could find no evidence of widespread bullying. However, it also confirmed it had no remit to investigate individual allegations. A spokesman for the prince declared this as a win, branding the claims as falsehoods. But those who run Sentebale, after Harry and other trustees resigned en masses in March following infighting, yesterday said such accusations 'can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate' than the Charity Commission, without elaborating. The regulator had been asked to investigate a dispute between the prince and its board of trustees on one side and Dr Chandauka on the other. Harry set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to work with disadvantaged young people in Lesotho and Botswana, with both men honouring their late mothers. The Commission criticised all parties as a result of its investigation into the 'damaging internal dispute'. It said the trustees' failure to resolve conflict internally 'severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities'. In a statement, Sentebale said yesterday: 'The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the Commission's responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. 'This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir [misogyny against black women] etc. 'As a result, the Commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry. The issues not investigated by the Commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the Commission.' A source told the Daily Mail that a decision on whether to proceed would be taken by the Sentebale trustees and executive management, although their focus for now was on delivering help to clients. This drew a scathing response from sources close to the original board of trustees – many of whom are Harry's friends and supporters – who said it was 'provocative and 'pitiful' to 'rehash unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the Commission found no evidence of'. The former board of trustees also issued a stinging statement rebuking the Charity Commission for choosing to 'ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence' which they raised over the 'leadership and oversight' of Sentebale's chair. Sentebale, which has refuted the claims, said it welcomes the conclusion of the compliance case and the issuing of an action plan for the charity moving forward. It said it looked forward to a future 'free from interference' with confidence.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
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Harry left ‘devastated' by boardroom battle at his charity Sentebale
On Tuesday, the Charity Commission published a report into the episode criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements, but the war of words has continued. The Duke of Sussex with Sentebale chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, during a fundraising polo match for Sentebale (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA) Sentebale appeared to suggest allegations made by Dr Chandauka of bullying, harassment and misogyny at the charity – which the commission found no evidence of – may be pursued against individuals through 'avenues more appropriate'. A source said: 'This has been emotionally absolutely devastating for Prince Harry and (Sentebale co-founder) Prince Seeiso (of Lesotho). What's been perpetrated over the last few months is nothing short of a hostile takeover.' Seeiso also stepped down as patron of the charity which works in Botswana and Lesotho supporting the health and wellbeing of young people, especially those with HIV and Aids. The source added: 'You have to remember Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry started this charity nearly two decades ago to honour the work and continue the legacy of their mothers Queen Mamohato and Princess Diana, and the work that they had done in southern Africa to support those living with HIV and Aids. 'In the 19 years that they have worked with this charity, and a lot of the former board of trustee members, they have raised tens of millions of pounds and distributed tens of millions of pounds.' Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned as patron alongside Harry during the boardroom battle (Andrew Matthews/PA) The commission criticised all parties in the dispute 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 which risked undermining public trust in charities generally. 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. After conducting its regulatory compliance case the commission issued a Regulatory Action Plan with Sentebale saying it had complied with the steps, from implementing an internal dispute policy to improving the charity's complaints and whistle-blowing procedures. The trustees who resigned said in a statement they were 'gravely concerned for the future of the charity' adding they were 'disheartened' by the way the regulator had 'chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence raised with them regarding the leadership and oversight of Sentebale's chair'. Sentebale said in statement: 'The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the commission's responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir etc. Harry was presented with an embroidered traditional blanket by Lesotho's Prince Seeiso in 2010 (PA) 'As a result, the commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry. 'The issues not investigated by the commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the commission.'
Telegraph
4 hours ago
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Prince Harry attacks his former charity for invoking memory of Diana
The chairman of the Duke of Sussex's former charity has been accused of acting in the 'poorest possible taste' over a reference to his late mother. Sophie Chandauka vowed to honour the founding mission of the charity Sentebale in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, after the Charity Commission ruled on Wednesday she could stay in post following a clash which forced the Duke and other trustees to resign. Allies of Prince Harry, who co-founded Sentebale in 2006, condemned her actions, saying his 'life's work' had been destroyed by her 'hostile takeover' of the charity, which they said had been her intention from the start. The Charity Commission issued a report on Wednesday into events at Sentebale, whose mission is to help children with HIV/Aids in Lesotho and Botswana. The Duke and other trustees, including co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, resigned en masse in March after accusing Ms Chandauka of mismanagement and calling on her to step down. She then claimed to have been a victim of bullying, harassment and misogynoir – discrimination against black women. On Wednesday, she said that the public spat had caused 'incalculable damage' to the charity and laid the blame on 'the unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned'.
