Prince Harry charity slammed in probe after bitter war of words

Prince Harry and others have been criticised for allowing a “damaging” boardroom battle at a charityhe founded to play out in the “public eye”.

The Charity Commission investigated Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as its patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned following a dispute with board of trustees chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka.

Today, the watchdog criticised all parties in the fallout 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 that risked undermining public trust in charities generally.

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It added: "The Commission has identified a lack of clarity around role descriptions and internal policies as the primary cause for weaknesses in the charity’s management. It finds that this confusion exacerbated tensions, which culminated in a dispute and multiple resignations of trustees and both founding patrons.

"The regulator has criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly, and further concluded that the then trustees’ failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally."

It also added that it "was not satisfied that public statements made to the media, and public criticism made in television interviews, were conducted in a way that served the charity’s best interests".

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

David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: "Passion for a cause is the bedrock of volunteering and charity, delivering positive impact for millions of people here at home and abroad every day. However, in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness rather than a strength.

"Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.

"This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities' ability to deliver for their cause. As a result, we have issued the charity a Regulatory Action Plan to make needed improvements and rectify findings of mismanagement."

A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: "The Charity Commission has today announced its findings. Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale’s Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current chair."

However, they added: "Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her - but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.

"Sentebale has been a deeply personal and transformative mission for Prince Harry, established to serve some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. For 19 years, its dedicated staff and steadfast supporters have provided vital care to over 100,000 young people across southern Africa, including young people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing mental health challenges.

"As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry, and the former Board of Trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea to - like its namesake - a flowering force for good. With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind- and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began -the Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana."

Dr Sophie Chanduaka added: “I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025. The experience was intense, and it became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience.

“We have continued to directly serve children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana with the steadfast support of long-standing funders, strategic partners, and community leaders. Our phenomenal team will directly serve more than 78,000 children and young people this year, matching or exceeding our impact in 2024 at a time of acute need in the region. I thank every dedicated colleague and the courageous new Board members who have stayed focused on the mission in the face of unprecedented media glare.

“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. We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.

“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. To all who believe in our mission: please walk with us as Sentebale recovers, renews, and rises to meet the hopes and expectations of the next generation.”