Prince Harry has made the difficult decision to step down from his role at Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded, citing internal conflicts within the organization.

Harry and Prince Seeiso Resign from Sentebale

Founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Sentebale was created to honor their late mothers and support young people affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. However, both royals have now resigned amid a governance dispute, prompting an investigation by the UK’s Charity Commission.

The conflict reportedly stems from tensions between chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka and the board of trustees, which included Harry’s close friend Mark Dyer. The entire board has also stepped down.

A Heartfelt Statement from Harry and Prince Seeiso

In a joint statement, Harry and Seeiso expressed their deep disappointment over the situation:
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.”

They emphasized their long-standing commitment to the charity, stating:
“Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honor of our mothers. Sentebale means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it’s what we’ve always promised for the young people we’ve served through this charity. Today is no different.”

Announcing their decision to step down, they added:
“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.”

Harry and Seeiso further claimed that the trustees had acted in the charity’s best interest by requesting the chair to step down but were instead met with legal resistance. They thanked the trustees for their years of service, expressing their heartbreak over the outcome.

Governance Dispute and Charity Commission Investigation

The UK’s Charity Commission is currently assessing concerns about Sentebale’s governance. A spokesperson stated:
“We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Chandauka defended her position in a statement, saying she had acted with fairness and integrity. She accused some individuals of abusing power and using media narratives to distort the situation.

“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 also described herself as a whistleblower, alleging poor governance, bullying, and discrimination. Rejecting the idea of stepping down, she insisted:
“My work with the charity is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account. I will continue to faithfully perform my role as Chair of the Board.”

Sentebale’s Future and Prince Harry’s Continued Support

Despite Harry and Prince Seeiso’s resignations, Sentebale stated that it had not received formal notices from the royal patrons and announced a board restructuring aimed at strengthening the organization’s leadership.

Harry, who has long considered Lesotho his “home away from home,” has been a dedicated supporter of Sentebale for years, raising millions through charity polo matches. His last visit to the country was in October 2024.

While his official role with the charity has ended for now, Harry emphasized that he will always remain one of its founders and hopes to see its mission continue under the right leadership.