Latest news with #Sentebale
News24
18 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Prince Harry ‘absolutely committed' to charity work in Africa after bitter Sentebale exit
Prince Harry is considering starting a new charity in Africa after leaving his beloved Sentebale charity, a spokesperson has said. The duke has apparently been left 'devastated' after a commission found in favour of Dr Sophie Chandauka, the current chairperson of Sentebale, who had previously accused him of bullying and harassment. The Charity Commission which is not allowed to investigate individual allegations of bullying said it found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment at Sentebale. Harry started the charity with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 as a way of honouring their late mothers. In response to the finding Harry's spokesperson said the royal remains 'absolutely committed' to continuing the work he started, supporting the 'children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana nearly 20 years ago'. Harry is now mulling his options and according to a report in the Mail on Sunday he may set up a separate, rival organisation. All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region Prince Harry spokesperson However, the commission criticised all parties for allowing the dispute 'to play out publicly' and concluded that the then-trustees' failure to resolve the disputes internally 'severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally'. The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso stepped down as Sentebale's patrons in March amid allegations about the charity's governance, saying they made the move 'in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees' who resigned during the infighting. In response to the commission's findings the trustees also released a statement in which they expressed their 'grave concern' for the future of the charity. They also said they felt the commission had 'chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence raised with them regarding the leadership and oversight of Sentebale's chair'. Chandauka, who became the charity's chair in 2023, said she welcomed the commission's findings and that Sentebale (which means 'forget-me-not' in Sesotho) would always be 'inspired' by Harry and Seeiso's vision and mission. I appreciate the commission for its conclusions which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025 Dr Sophie Chandauka '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,' the Zimbabwean corporate finance lawyer said in a statement. Sentebale also released a statement saying, '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 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.' Sources:
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
AMANDA PLATELL: Meghan's silence says it all. I know the sad conclusion... it's so clear to me the toxic end that's coming
It's been a tricky few weeks for Prince Harry. First, he quit his beloved African charity Sentebale, which helps children and young people, following a 'race' row.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Royal insider on 'moment it went wrong' for Harry and Meghan after breaking royal protocol
The first public appearance of a royal baby is a time-honoured tradition, yet Harry and Meghan chose a different route - a decision that reportedly hinted at the couple's royal future Paul Burrell, a former royal butler, has reflected on the moment he believes worsened Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's split from the Royal Family. His comments have resurfaced as the couple's new Netflix projects were revealed, including Season 2 of With Love, Meghan. Paul spoke openly in the documentary Harry and Meghan: The Rise and Fall, which offered a glimpse into the couple's royal experience before they chose to quit their senior roles in 2022. Breaking with royal tradition, as followed by couples like Prince William and Kate, and Charles and Diana, the Sussexes chose not to take part in the customary post-birth photo session outside the hospital after the arrival of their firstborn, Archie. Instead, they opted for a more private approach, staging a personal photocall two days later — a decision that reportedly caused concern at the time. Looking back now, some understand the couple's wish for privacy during such an important moment. However, at the time, their break from protocol was seen by some as an early sign they were stepping back from royal commitments. Speaking about the break from tradition, Paul said: 'Why didn't they want to show the world their joy? They're retreating, they're pulling back — that's when I thought it was going wrong.' Offering his view, royal photographer Zak Hussein emphasised the public's fondness for photos of royals and their babies on the hospital steps. He observed: 'So, to not have that, I guess, kind of ruffled some feathers, but on the flip side, it's understandable that people want privacy around the birth of their child. 'It was a sign of the way things might go — that they wouldn't follow tradition and were definitely going to do things their own way.' Since welcoming Archie in 2019, Harry and Meghan have grown their family with the arrival of their daughter, Lilibet. Their relocation to America in 2020 has meant only occasional public outings and limited photographs of their children being released. Explaining the apparent logic behind the couple's approach, a friend told People magazine: 'Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them, but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.' Why Meghan Markle 'threw a cup of tea into the air' during 'miserable' relationship 'Fuming' Prince Harry plots next move with 'all options on table' as bitter Sentebale row deepens Worries about their security also feature prominently, with the source adding: 'He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm. As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.' Following their return from an official visit to Colombia, Harry and Meghan will have reason to celebrate as their son, Archie, is poised to start school for the first time. Children in the United States generally begin kindergarten at around the age of five or six. With Archie reaching this milestone, he is expected to start his education shortly after his parents return home. Speaking about local educational options, Montecito resident Richard Mineards told Hello! 's A Right Royal Podcast that the schools are 'good.' He explained: 'We have very good schools, which are not like England's public schools, but they're state schools. And we have a very good one called Cold Spring School, which has got great ratings, and that's in their catchment area.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Meghan's failure to publicly back Harry speaks volumes after Netflix downgrade'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced a new Netflix deal with Meghan speaking out about the partnership - but expert Dr Tessa Dunlop says the Duchess has stayed noticeably silent on one issue Meghan Markle spoke of her pride after extending her and Prince Harry's 'partnership' with Netflix and signing a new "multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects". However, the package has since been described as a "downgrade" on their previous multi-million dollar exclusive deal. Only Meghan spoke out in the announcement, describing how she and Harry feel 'inspired' by their streaming platform partners, who "share their vision". But according to royal expert Dr Tessa Dunlop, while Meghan had plenty to say about Netflix, her silence when it comes to another issue facing Harry is telling. The Duke of Sussex stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka. Harry was said to be devastated by the row, which saw all sides rebuked by the Charity Commission for allowing the war of words to play out so publicly. And many expected self-styled philanthropist Meghan to publicly back Harry, with Tessa questioning her silence. Tessa told the Mirror: "Now that Meghan and Harry have signed a new Netflix deal ('looser' and apparently less lucrative than the previous $78m one but a deal nonetheless), might the Duchess find her voice? "Not the one she volubly uses to hawk As Ever wares (in conjunction with Netflix) but rather the voice Meghan famously re-found after leaving the Royal Family, the one that talked her truth to royal power and surely could talk her truth to the Sentebale fiasco? "No, really, why hasn't Meghan come out batting for Prince Harry in his latest round of verbal fisty-cuffs concerning his former African charity? After all, the Duke has consistently spoken out in support of his wife, establishing the precedent early on and against the wishes of his family when he condemned Britain's media coverage and insisted he had never before witnessed such a 'degree of pressure, scrutiny and harassment' from the press. "As it currently stands, Harry cuts a lonely figure. The Charity Commission 'identified a 'strong perception of ill treatment' swirling in the unhappy waters of his former charity, Sentebale. It was a terse ruling that exonerated no one; all parties remain incandescent, particularly the aggrieved prince, who insists the report has fallen 'troublingly short.' "In other words, the Duke of Sussex's nemesis, Dr Sophie Chanduka, is still at large, running Harry's former beloved Sentebale. The Duke could really do with some public TLC, especially from his wife, whose own issues with said Dr Chanduka were allegedly caught on camera at a polo match Sentebale fundraiser." When the row first emerged back in March, Meghan was also dragged into it when Dr Chandauka accused the Duchess of causing a stir when she turned up with tennis icon Serena Williams to a Sentebale polo match fund-raiser. This was later rubbished by sources close to Meghan and Harry, with the latter said to be reeling" at how his resignation has panned out. But Tessa added: "As Meghan was part of the problem that was criticised for playing 'out publicly', please could she offer her beleaguered husband a verbal panacea? "With a new Netflix deal signed that mainly favours the Duchess and the As Ever brand, a word or two of support for the Prince who made it all possible would not go amiss. After all, these days Harry is very much on the outside, wondering how he so suddenly lost his fast-track to philanthropic service on the continent of Africa." The announcement of the new Netflix deal has also confirmed that the second season of Meghan's lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, is set to air later this month, along with a holiday special in December. Meanwhile, on social media, Meghan's As Ever brand has continued to plug her products, including her rose wine. And Tessa explained: "Meghan, meanwhile, is wallowing in her happy space, posting shadowy pics of her latest Rose wine on Instagram, reassuring her international customers 'we see you too!' Perhaps. "But does she see her spouse? Does she hear his pain? Does she envisage a way forward for the troubled Duke? The Sussexes broke 'free' of the British Royal Family some five years ago, and despite the best efforts of the naysayers, the Duchess has been incontrovertibly emboldened by her association with Harry's brand of tinsel and tiaras. "Sadly, the same cannot be said for her husband. Netflix Christmas specials on how to decorate your house and a documentary short about an Ugandan orphanage hardly cut it for the man with a lifelong training in gladhanding and philanthropic giving. "As one person inside the couple's circle saliently observed, Harry looks like the kind of guy who would, frankly, happily work for charities for the rest of his life.' Well quite. And he has made it clear he wants to continue his charitable endeavours in Africa. It would be great if Meghan could pipe up and give him some support."
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Prince Harry considering surprise move amid decision to withdraw from charity
Prince Harry is mulling over the idea of starting a new charity following a high-profile fallout at Sentebale that saw him exit stage left. The Duke of Sussex sensationally left his role as patron at the African charity, which he had co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, back in March following an internal dispute with the chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. The Spare author's reps have since confirmed to The Post that he is weighing out his options and possibilities following his bitter departure from the organisation. 'The Duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago,' Harry's rep said. 'In what form that support takes — no decisions have been made. All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region.' Last week, the Charity Commission for England and Wales announced that it discovered no evidence of 'widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogynoir' at the organisation. While the probe found no 'overreach' by Harry or Chandauka, it criticised both parties for allowing the dispute 'to play out publicly.' The Commission also pointed to poor internal governance at Sentebale and claimed that the pair's 'failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.' As a result, Harry, 40, issued a response in which he said it wasn't surprising the Commission found no evidence of wrongdoing at Sentebale, which he kickstarted in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. On Thursday, the former working royal's reps told The Post that Harry is 'deeply upset' by the entire fiasco — though remains deeply concerned about the charity's overall mission. 'The Duke is, of course, deeply upset by this entire ordeal; though he remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he began 19 years ago — that being to support the children of Lesotho and Botswana living with HIV/AIDS and struggling with mental health issues,' his rep said. In a further twist to the drama, Sentebale last week called on the Charity Commission to provide clarity about its recent charity asked the investigating body to make it clear that its report did not specifically look into accusations of racism and misogyny directed at Harry.
