Latest news with #RoyalSalutePoloChallenge
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle's wore this exact silky halterneck dress for spring and it's still in stock
If you've been keen to copy Meghan Markle's chic spring style, you're in luck, this exact halterneck dress she wore to a Royal Polo Challenge is still available to buy in most sizes Attending the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida, Meghan Markle stunned in an understated yet luxurious midi dress that optimised her spring style. Joining her husband, Prince Harry, Meghan wore an ivory halter sundress that featured cut-out and pleat details. Made from ivory silk and hemp, Meghan's spring midi dress was from California designer, Heidi Merrick, and it's still currently available to shop. Available in two colours, black or Meghan's opted-for white, those keen to emulate Meghan's sunny-weather ensemble with the exact number she wore can still pick up her exact dress in nearly all sizes. Meghan's gorgeous Ginger midi showcases a gorgeous blend of ivory silk and hemp. The dress features key details, including a folded halter top featuring a scarf collar that can be styled in multiple ways. It is paired with a fluid, pleated skirt that swings with you in the wind and comes complete with pockets and a drop-waist design for ultimate comfort and an effortlessly chic style. The dress boasts a striking bow and a cutout back, adding a touch of flair, while the understated luxury of the look makes it a timeless piece that can easily be styled for any occasion, whether you're heading to brunch with the girls or your next Royal polo match. Normally available in sizes XXS to XL, this dress is still available to buy in all sizes except XXL and XL. That said, Meghan's glamorous look in this dress has led to its popularity as a staple piece in any spring/summer wardrobe, so you may want to act fast to secure your own before it sells out for good. Over at Selfridges, those prepared to spend a little more can pick up this stunning Reformation Tala Halterneck Linen Maxi Dress for £300. If you're on a budget, check out this alternative offering from Nobody's Child for £85 or this Off White Linen Blend Halter Neck Midi Dress at Very for £31.99.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry's Sentebale 'Problem' Allegedly 'Started With Meghan' As Duchess 'Never Liked' The Charity Chair
Tensions between Meghan Markle and Dr. Sophie Chandauka reportedly contributed to Prince Harry's abrupt resignation from Sentebale. At a charity polo event, the Duchess of Sussex allegedly snubbed Dr. Chandauka, sparking controversy at the time. The Sentebale chair has since spoken on the moment, claiming that Prince Harry asked her to defend Meghan Markle against the backlash and she refused. Meghan and Dr. Chandauka's alleged strained relationship reportedly played a significant role in Harry's sudden resignation from the organization he helped launch. According to sources close to the situation, 'The problem, though, started with Meghan,' as she 'doesn't like Sophie.' Speaking with the Daily Mail, an insider revealed that things began to unravel following an awkward encounter at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge held in Florida in April 2024. The source claimed Meghan had told organizers she wouldn't attend, only to later arrive at the event with close friend Serena Williams. Dr. Chandauka had reportedly hoped to introduce Meghan to key attendees and donors, but Meghan was allegedly uninterested in engaging. 'She [Dr. Chandauka] wanted to take her around, to introduce her to other people, but Meghan didn't want to mingle or engage with those supporting the event,' the insider said. They added: 'She went off to the tent. Sophie found it rude. Staff working that day were asked to get champagne for Meghan, they were scrambling around — Sentebale and Archewell staff were both having to do that. Sentebale were not happy about this at all.' There was also an uncomfortable exchange between Meghan and Dr. Chandauka during the charity polo event in Florida that didn't go unnoticed. Footage from the event shows Meghan repeatedly encouraging Dr. Chandauka to stand beside her for a group photo rather than next to Harry. 'You want to come over here?' Meghan is heard saying, signaling the Zimbabwean-born finance expert to move. Dr. Chandauka then ducks under the trophy to switch places, prompting Meghan to comment with a brief, 'Lovely.' During a chat with Sky News' Trevor Phillips, Dr. Chandauka noted that the unplanned appearance created coordination issues. "We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn't," she explained. "And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage." The interaction between Dr. Chandauka and Meghan quickly gained traction online, fueling media speculation. In response to the attention, Harry allegedly requested that Dr. Chandauka release a statement publicly supporting Meghan, which she declined. "Not because I didn't care about the Duchess," Dr. Chandauka explained. "But because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes." A source recently shared with the Daily Telegraph that Harry was not pleased with the chairwoman's refusal to defend Meghan. This allegedly prompted the Duke to chastise her in a personal message that was said to have an "unpleasant" tone and "imperious" language, which left the charity chair "upset." Last month, Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to honor the legacies of their late mothers. The pair released a joint statement addressing their resignation, calling it a 'devastating' but necessary decision. They cited ongoing tensions between Dr. Chandauka and the board of trustees as the reason for their departure. 'What's transpired is unthinkable,' they said. 'We are in shock that we have to do this.' Harry and Seeiso continued: 'With heavy hearts, we have resigned for our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and in 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.' Despite stepping away from formal roles, Harry, 40, and Seeiso, 58, emphasized their lasting connection to the organization. 'We may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.' However, Dr. Chandauka attributed the resignations of Harry and the charity's board of trustees to what she describes as 'misogynoir' and systemic misconduct within the organization. In an interview with The London Times, Chandauka pushed back against the public narrative surrounding the departures, calling it misleading and rooted in prejudice. 'Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who 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,' she said. She went on to suggest that, for Harry, Prince Seeiso, and certain trustees, Sentebale may have been a 'vanity project.' However, she claimed that for her, it has always been about upholding the charity's mission and serving the youth.
Miami Herald
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Prince Harry resigned from his charity. Was this viral photo op in Florida to blame?
Prince Harry fans freaked when he popped up unexpectedly in South Florida back in April 2024. The first sighting was at upscale restaurant Zaytinya at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach Hotel. The royal was attending a fundraiser for Sentebale, the charity he co-founded to help South Africa's next generation. 'Africa's in my heart, Africa's in my soul,' said the Duke at the event, whose guests included actress Mindy Kaling. 'The vast open space, the cultures, the communities, the people, the wildlife, just the freedom was a huge piece of why I loved [it] so much.' Fans wondered at the time where Harry's wife, 'Suits' alum Meghan Markle, was. Lo and behold, the duchess showed up the next day for the Royal Salute Polo Challenge at the Grand Champions Polo Club up in Wellington. Cameras were there, too. The match was filmed for a Netflix doc the royal couple was producing for their company Archewell. As if the Hollywood star showing up didn't cause enough of a stir, a strange thing happened during the step and repeat. When Sentebale chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka stood next to Harry for a group picture, Markle is seen motioning for the woman to move away from him and get next to her. She complied. The awkward exchange quickly went viral, and ultimately spiraled into a disaster. A year later, Sentebale is in flux after Harry suddenly resigned — reportedly because his fractured relationship with Chandauka. 'It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation,' the California based Brit said in a statement. 'What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this...' The actual reason for the rift? According to widespread media reports, it was that cringy moment at the Wellington tournament. Harry apparently wasn't happy about the fallout and had his team fire off a text to Chandauka asking her to publicly defend Markle and say all was copacetic between the two women. The Zimbabwe born lawyer declined. 'I said no,' Chandauka told the Financial Times in a bombshell interview. 'We're not setting a precedent by which we become an extension of the Sussex PR machine.' In another sitdown with Sky's Sunday Morning News, Chandauka accused Harry of 'harassment and bullying at scale'. 'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct,' she said. A source close to a handful of Sentable's former trustees and patrons — who also left the charity — blamed the breakdown on Chandauka, and called her interviews with the UK press a 'publicity stunt.' Still, we hear Chandauka has receipts, which could prove way embarrassing if leaked. 'Harry should be nervous,' an insider close to the situation told Page Six, 'especially when he has been so outspoken about his wife being bullied in the past.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry Accused Of Sending 'Imperious' Note To Sentebale Boss After She Refused To Defend Meghan
Prince Harry has been accused of sending an "unpleasant" note to the chairwoman of his Sentebale charity. According to a report, the Duke of Sussex made the request after the chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, turned down his request to defend Meghan Markle publicly. The Duchess of Sussex had come under fire following her appearance at a charity polo event where she was recorded directing the Sentebale boss away from Prince Harry's side. The Duke of Sussex was embroiled in a "bullying" scandal after his decision to step down from his role at the Sentebale charity he co-founded. Now, he has been directly accused of sending a note to the chair of the charity, Dr. Chandauka, demanding that she "explain" why she refused to defend his wife. This comes after Dr. Chandauka claimed that Harry had asked her to release a statement defending Meghan from the backlash she faced over a video of the trio at a charity polo event. According to the Daily Telegraph, Chandauka refused to get involved, and this allegedly prompted Harry to chastise her in a personal message that was said to have an "unpleasant" tone and "imperious" language, which left the charity chair "upset." The Daily Mail has reportedly confirmed from Sentebale that such a message from Harry exists, although the organization did not disclose its content. "We do not have consent to share the communication," a spokesperson told the news outlet. Prior to the latest report, Dr. Chandauka shared that Meghan disrupted the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida after indicating that she would not attend the event. The Duchess is said to have arrived unannounced with tennis legend Serena Williams, leading to last-minute "disruptions." During the event, Meghan allegedly made suggestions about the stage arrangement, twice requesting Dr. Chandauka to move away from Prince Harry's side. This led to an awkward reshuffling of attendees that was caught on video, with Dr. Chandauka having to reposition herself around the trophy and away from Prince Harry. Speaking to Sky News' Trevor Phillips, Dr. Chandauka noted that the unplanned appearance created coordination issues. "We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn't," she explained. "And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage." Dr. Chandauka further revealed that Harry requested she release a public statement supporting Meghan, but she declined. "Not because I didn't care about the Duchess," Dr. Chandauka explained. "But because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes." Dr. Chandauka has made several accusatory remarks toward the Duke of Sussex, including claims that he acts as if he is "above the law," "mistreats people," and then "plays the victim card." These comments seemingly referenced Harry's joint statement with the Lesotho prince about quitting the NGO. Dr. Chandauka, who has served as Sentebale's chair since 2023, also accused Harry of being involved in what she described as a "cover-up" regarding an internal investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment, and misogyny within the organization. She further claimed that the "toxicity" surrounding his public image had negatively affected the charity's operations. An ex-trustee who left the charity organization alongside Harry has since opened up about being "shocked" by Dr. Chandauka's claims of "bullying." "I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such," Dr. Kelello Lerotholi told Sky News. He added, "The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each others' opinions and inputs, and speaking with respect to each other. So this all came as a shock to me." At the time, he also linked the ongoing feud to Sentebale's financial issues caused by Dr. Chandauka's alleged mismanagement. Lerotholi added, "I think things came to a head at the end of last year when it seemed that we were not doing as well as we used to be and that the future didn't look as bright as it used to." Sources close to Sussexes have also slammed Dr. Chandauka's bullying claims as a "deflection." The sources told the Daily Mail that Harry and other trustees' decisions to quit were a "direct result of the chair's mismanagement." They also noted that Sentebale had no financial issues when Dr. Chandauka was appointed in 2023. The accusation about Harry's royal life departure leading to the loss of donors was "baseless and inaccurate."
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside Meghan Markle's Viral Polo Moment That Sentebale Chair Says Escalated Tensions with Prince Harry
An awkward moment caught on camera between Meghan Markle and Sentebale chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka is back in the spotlight after Prince Harry's shock departure from the charity The Duchess of Sussex appeared to direct Chandauka away from Harry and next to her during a group photo moment at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in April 2024 reports that Prince Harry sent Chandauka a message after she declined to issue a statement following the incident Prince Harry's unexpected resignation from his Sentebale charity has reignited interest in an awkward moment involving him, his wife Meghan Markle and the organization's chairwoman at a 2024 polo tournament. On March 26, the Duke of Sussex, 40, and his Sentebale co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, announced their departure as patrons of the charity they founded in 2006 to honor their late mothers. The move sent shockwaves amid reports of internal turmoil and financial struggles within the organization. Chandauka claims her dispute with Harry began in April 2024 when she refused his team's request to publicly defend Meghan Markle after an awkward on-stage exchange led to negative media coverage. Footage from the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Fla., last April shows Harry, Meghan, and Chandauka posing with a trophy. Initially, Chandauka stands beside Harry, but Meghan, 43, appears to direct her to move next to her instead. Chandauka then awkwardly ducks under the trophy to switch positions. Related: Why Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso and Sentable Trustees Walked Away from Charity: 'They Couldn't Continue in Good Conscience' The group then appears to pose cheerfully for the photo, celebrating Prince Harry and his teammates' 3-1 victory for the Royal Salute Sentebale Team over the Grand Champions Polo Club Team, captained by Harry's friend and Sentebale ambassador, Nacho Figueras. In a March 29 interview with the Financial Times, Chandauka claimed that the photo moment with Meghan sparked tensions with Prince Harry, which later escalated. According to her, the Duke of Sussex urged her to publicly address the incident, but she refused. "I said no, we're not setting a precedent by which we become an extension of the Sussex PR machine," Chandauka told the outlet. Related: Why Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso and Sentable Trustees Walked Away from Charity: 'They Couldn't Continue in Good Conscience' A source close to Sentebale patrons and trustees told PEOPLE that the dispute is rooted in governance concerns, not personal grievances. Regarding the specific instance Chandauka referenced, the source says they cannot comment on the details but stresses that they "only ever want the truth to be shared." In December 2024, Prince Harry was spotted warmly greeting Chandauka outside New York City's Ki Smith Gallery ahead of a reception for Friend, an art exhibit benefiting Sentebale. The two appeared to engage in a friendly chat before heading inside for the event. The showcase, featuring works by pioneers of Minimalism and Op Art, donated 100% of its sales to the charity. During brief remarks, Harry expressed gratitude on behalf of Sentebale, saying the team was "massively grateful" for the generosity. In a March 30 interview with Sky News, Chandauka claimed she had experienced 'harassment and bullying at scale' following Prince Harry's departure from Sentebale. On March 31, The Telegraph reported that Harry had previously messaged Chandauka after she refused to issue a statement about the polo photo moment with Meghan. "He initially asked his team to contact the Zimbabwean-born lawyer and request she issue a statement quashing any rumours of tension between her and the Duchess," the outlet reports. "However, after she refused to be drawn into the row, Prince Harry fired a direct message to her allegedly demanding that she 'explain herself.' " According to The Telegraph, sources described the message as 'unpleasant' in tone and 'imperious' in language, leaving Chandauka caught off guard and further straining an already tense situation. Last week, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, 58, issued a joint statement to announce the "devastating" decision that they were stepping down as patrons of Sentebale, supporting the trustees who resigned over fallout with Chandauka. The friends created the organization in memory of their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mother 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso. "With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation," they said, in part. After the board of trustees asked Chandauka, who took on the leadership role in July 2023, to resign, she lodged a lawsuit against the charity, which supports young people in Lesotho and Botswana. The Charity Commission in the U.K. confirmed they are investigating. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! A Sentebale source familiar with the situation tells PEOPLE that the chairwoman placed significant financial strain on the organization. The source says that when Chandauka was appointed in July 2023, the organization was in stable financial standing, a situation which changed under her leadership. "The trustees felt that they couldn't in good conscience continue to place legal and financial strain on the charity by it proceeding in court and chose to resign," the source said. Read the original article on People
