Prince Harry breaks silence on 'bullying' accusations as he slams Sentebale charity probe

Prince Harry has hit out at a report following a probe into the Sentebale charity he co-founded after a bitter boardroom clash.

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

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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The investigation was launched after a public war of words with Dr Chandauka, who had levelled accusations of bullying and harassment in a bid to remove her.

And Harry's spokesperson attacked the findings, saying the 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".

Meanwhile, a source close to Harry told The Times that he was "devastated that the chair has been allowed to succeed with a hostile takeover". They added that the commission was "sitting so far on the fence that their feet are not even touching the ground".

Dr Chandauka said: "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."

The fallout came after Sentebale's trustees sought in 2023 to introduce a new fundraising strategy, with the dispute arising between Dr Chandauka, some of the trustees and Harry, said the regulator.

A war of words followed the resignations, with Harry and Seeiso issuing a joint statement in March. They described the decision as "unthinkable", adding the trustees "acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down" while "in turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship".

Dr Chandauka hit back in a television interview, accusing the duke of being “involved” in a “cover-up” of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation and said the “toxicity” of his brand had impacted the charity, which had seen a drop in donors since Harry moved to the US.

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.

Harry founded charity Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. The duke’s spokesperson added that Harry would find alternatives to helping the children supported by Sentebale in Lesotho and Botswana.

He said: "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."

He added: "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.”

The commission’s role as regulator was not to adjudicate on internal charity disputes, and the case sought to establish whether the charity’s former and current trustees, including the chair, fulfilled their duties under charity law.

After conducting its regulatory compliance case, the commission found no evidence of “over-reach” by either the chairwoman or Harry in his role as patron.

The commission has issued a regulatory action plan setting out steps trustees need to take, including implementing an internal dispute policy, improving the charity’s complaints and whistle-blowing procedures, and establishing clearer processes for delegating authority on behalf of the charity.

Sentebale said in a statement that since the start of the year, senior executives had now been established in southern Africa, closer to operations.

It said the action plan aligned with the board’s thinking, with a new internal complaints procedure in place, alongside a code of conduct for trustees and a new approach to the delegation of responsibilities so that roles were clearly defined, including any future patron relationships.

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.

"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.”