The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has stepped down from Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 to honor his mother, Princess Diana, and assist those battling HIV and AIDS in southern Africa. This decision follows a heated dispute between the charity’s board of trustees and its chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
The BBC reports that Prince Harry, alongside his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, decided to resign due to irreparable differences with Dr. Chandauka after she was asked to resign and retaliated with legal action.
Dr. Chandauka has accused the board of trustees of numerous infractions, including abuse of power and racism, and has involved the UK Charity Commission, which is currently investigating governance concerns at Sentebale.
Despite their resignation, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their support for the trustees, stating that the decision was made in the charity’s best interests, although they both leave with “heavy hearts” and in “solidarity with the board.”
In her defense, Dr. Chandauka claims her actions at Sentebale were guided by principles of fairness, but she alleges mistreatment and misconduct, including misogyny and bullying, that were ignored by the charity’s leadership.
The tension between Prince Harry and Dr. Chandauka reportedly began soon after she took on her role last year, with visible discomfort between her and Harry during public events such as a charity polo match.
