Latest news with #hostile takeover
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Prince William puts Harry to shame with his charities. Will the Duke consider what he might have achieved in tandem with his brother after Sentebale row?
He is, it's said, so distraught over what he sees as the 'hostile takeover' of Sentebale that there's 'no way in hell' he will work with the charity again, even though it has, for 19 years, been the cause closest to his heart. But, when his rage finally abates, will Prince Harry pause to consider what he might have achieved in tandem with his brother? The question is prompted by the remarkable performance of the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, originally the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry when they established it in 2009. In its current guise – which took shape after Megxit, when Harry and Meghan announced they would form their own charitable organisation, Archewell – the foundation has just had its latest financial report published by the Charity Commission. This records that it raised £12.2million in income last year, compared with just under £8million the year before. This stunning result – achieved in a very challenging financial environment – is attributed to what is described as 'an updated fundraising strategy'. More than £7million came in donations and legacies, with £2.6million of that coming from the American Friends of the Royal Foundation – the best part of £1million more than American Friends gave in 2023. Since 2022, the Royal Foundation has, of course, been entirely separate from the Earthshot Prize, which was established by William and Catherine 'to find, support and celebrate those who turn bold ideas into real solutions to repair our planet'. The Earthshot's total income for 2024 was £23.5million, which included a 68 per cent increase in donations, up from £12.8million to £21.4million. So the combined income for William and Catherine's two organisations in just one year totals a staggering £35million. It's a figure which must now seem poignantly – and impossibly – remote to Harry and Meghan. They've yet to unveil Archewell's income for 2024, but in 2023 the figure was $5.7million (£4.25million). Earl of Dundee finds love again Devastated when his wife of 40 years, interior designer Siobhan Llewellyn, died in 2019 aged 63, the Earl of Dundee, now 76, has found love again. Alexander Scrymgeour has got engaged to Julia Trotter, 79, whose previous husband, Major Alexander Trotter, a former Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire, died three years ago. 'They're both delighted,' a friend tells me. The earl served as a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth. Liz and Billy Ray get to business Things must be getting serious for Elizabeth Hurley and her new boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus. The American singer, 63, accompanied Liz to a screening of The Inheritance, her forthcoming Channel 4 reality show, at The Ned in London. 'I was thrilled he could come with me,' she tells me. 'We've had most of the summer off.' Billy Ray's six children include pop singers Miley and Noah Cyrus. 'We've seen both his daughters play in London, which was great,' Liz, 60, adds. 'This is actually the first business thing he's come to with me. He's very supportive and that feels nice.' Botox? I'm afraid it's a non from me, says Roitfeld girl First her fashion queen mother broke the dress code at Cannes. Now, Julia Restoin Roitfeld is rebelling in her own way. Just weeks after Vogue Paris grande dame Carine Roitfeld turned heads at the glamorous amfAR gala by attending in a humble T-shirt, daughter Julia is defying beauty norms – by saying a firm non to Botox. The Tom Ford model, 44, who went out with footballer-turned-pundit Jamie Redknapp after his split from wife Louise, reveals: 'A dermatologist in Paris suggested Botox in my brows to lift my lids... but I've always been really anti anything invasive – Botox, fillers.' At a recent lunch, her confession that she'd never dabbled in injectables prompted disbelief from fellow diners. 'The truth is, I like my face. It's not perfect, but I refuse to change it,' she writes online, adding that her boyfriend – Northern Irish rock star Tim Wheeler – agrees. 'He claimed he would probably fancy me less if I altered my face in any way.' Night tsar is scared of the dark in London Appointed nightlife adviser by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Sacha Lord admits he's terrified to go out after dark in another Labour-run city. 'Great weekend in London, but it just doesn't feel safe any more,' despairs the former Labour donor, who made his fortune from music festivals. 'It's the only UK city where I won't use my mobile in public, in fear of it getting snatched.' Lord's fears about Sadiq Khan's London are certainly not unfounded: more than 70,000 phones were stolen in the capital last year, a 34 per cent increase from 2023. Greg's crisis over being a broad-caster BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James has overhauled his lifestyle after panicking over the onset of 'middle-aged spread' – and claims he's in better shape approaching 40 than he was in his 20s. 'A couple of years ago, I looked at myself and thought, 'If you don't catch this at some point, you're never going to do it',' he says. 'I don't want a belly, I don't want to start decaying. It's not about perfection. I like cheese. I like going out. But I also want to feel fit.' Raking in over £400,000 a year, James has splashed thousands on joining the Lighthouse Gym in Fitzrovia, which operates on a referral-only basis and counts James Norton and Dominic Cooper among its members. It's gardening gloves over knuckle duster for Ray Hollywood hardman Ray Winstone has found peace growing food in his garden. The actor, 68, who starred in films including Scum and The Departed, has become green-fingered at his villa in Sicily. 'I'm lucky enough to have a bit of land out here, and I grow olives and almonds, purely for myself, I don't sell it,' he says. 'It's for me and the family.' On his love of being outdoors, Winstone, who grew up in east London, adds: 'I sound a little bit poncey, but you are kind of getting in touch with nature again.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry condemns Sentebale charity boss for acting in the 'poorest taste' by referencing Princess Diana after she won control of duke's 'life's work' that royal fears will 'go down in flames'
Prince Harry believes the boss of Sentebale acted in the 'poorest taste' by invoking Princess Diana 's memory after she retained control of the charity he set up to continue his mother's work in Africa, a source close to the royal has claimed. The Duke of Sussex is said to have been left 'devastated' by the boardroom battle that saw him leave the organisation after 19 years, which he fears will now go 'down in flames'. Harry, who co-founded Sentebale in 2006, is said to consider it a 'hostile takeover' of the charity by chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka who he claims has destroyed his 'life's work'. 'She's allowing it to go down in flames because of her own pride and hubris… he has for the last 19 years established this charity from nothing', a source close to Harry claimed. A dispute earlier this year prompted Harry to step down as patron in support of trustees who resigned in opposition to Dr Chandauka, who then accused him of 'harassment and bullying at scale' - a claim that is vehemently denied. On Tuesday, the Charity Commission published a report criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements, but the war of words continues. Dr Chandauka then vowed to honour the founding mission of Sentebale in memory of the Duke's late mother after the watchdog ruled she could stay in her position. But sources close to Harry, who co-founded Sentebale in 2006, have criticised the chair, saying her 'hostile takeover' of the charity had destroyed his 'life's work'. The Charity Commission yesterday revealed it had found 'no evidence of widespread or systematic bullying or harassment including misogyny or misogynoir' following a bitter boardroom battle at Sentebale. 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. Dr Chandauka said: 'Despite the recent turbulence, we will always be inspired by the vision of our founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato.' But a source close to Harry said in response: 'For Sophie Chandauka to have invoked Princess Diana's memory in her own defence was in the poorest possible taste. 'She's got what she wants, which is control of the charity, but unfortunately the people who suffer most out of all of this… are the children of Lesotho and Botswana.' Speaking to the Telegraph, the source added: 'The most devastating thing for Prince Harry in all of this is that his life's work and all the money he was able to pump into Lesotho and Botswana through his work has gone down in flames.' Sentebale meanwhile has 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'. Another 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.' 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. '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.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Harry left ‘devastated' by boardroom battle at his charity Sentebale
The Duke of Sussex has been left emotionally devastated by the events surrounding the boardroom battle that saw him leave his Sentebale charity, a source has said. The dispute, which prompted Harry to step down as patron in support of trustees who resigned in opposition to board chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, was described as a 'hostile takeover' by the source. 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. 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.' 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. '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.'
