After dramatically quitting as patron of Sentebale, the charity he helped to set up in his late mother’s name, the row between Prince Harry and the charity’s chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka has turned even more explosive

Sophie Chandauka accuses Prince Harry of ‘bullying and harassment’

Prince Harry’s shock decision to quit as patron of a charity he founded in his late mother’s memory sent shockwaves around the world. But almost a week on from the leaked announcement, an extraordinary war of words between the Sussex camp, former trustees and the chairwoman of the charity Sentebale has erupted. And it’s rocked the organisation to the core.

After releasing a joint statement with Sentebale’s co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to resign their patronages, Dr Chandauka immediately hit back alleging there had been “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir” at the organisation – claims that have been strenuously denied.

Prince Harry with Dr Sophie Chandauka back in April 2024 (Image: PA)

But the row has now taken an even more explosive turn with Dr Chandauka making even more bombshell claims in a series of interviews -and the Duchess of Sussex is in the firing line. Here we look at how the hostile war of words has unfolded…

Harry’s scathing resignation

It was more than 20 years ago that Harry embarked on his gap year – and it proved to be one of the most pivotal moments of his life. Aged just 19, he headed to the tiny African kingdom of Lesotho for two months. He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas.

Two years later – in memory of Princess Diana – he then set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. Its name means ‘forget-me-not’ – the favourite flower of Harry’s late mother.

The prince made several visits to the Kingdom over the years to see the charity in action and was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after he and wife Meghan quit the UK.

Harry at an event with the Sentebale chairwoman (Image: Getty Images for Sentebale)

Speaking when he launched the organisation in Lesotho nearly 20 years ago, he said: “You’ll be surprised. Come back to this place in 25 years, you’ll see a massive difference.” The young prince added: “As far as I’m concerned, I’m committed for the rest of my life.” However, last Tuesday after nearly two decades as patron, Harry sensationally quit his role, along with co-founder Prince Seeiso, amid the heated clash within the organisation – saying the move has left him “heartbroken” and “devastated”.

In an extraordinary statement, the co-founders backed the departing trustees of the charity and said they had resigned as patrons until further notice. They said: “Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour 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. With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and in 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. These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind.”

Charity chair fires back

But just hours later, Dr Chandauka fired back in a blistering statement. Without naming Harry, she referred to people who “play the victim card and use the very press they disdain, to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct”.

Dr Chandauka issued a blistering statement after Harry resigned from the charity (Image: PA)

She alleged there had been “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir”. She said: “Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve.

“My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means. 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.”

Loaded statement

But that wasn’t the end of the row. Last Wednesday morning, the Sentebale charity also posted a loaded statement on its social media accounts amid reports Harry was ‘torn apart’ by his decision to step away from the charity he set up.

The statement not only references Harry and his co-founder, but also played down the role of trustees, while praising “people in the field who are advancing the work”.

Harry visiting Lesotho back in 2008 – two years after helping to set up Sentebale (Image: WireImage)

It says: “It’s the incredible teams on the ground – our staff and local partners – who bring our mission to life every day, walking alongside the children and young people we serve. While trustees are key for governance and regulation, and patrons – especially founders – are an honour to have, it’s the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what.

“Our commitment to supporting youth in southern Africa with better health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience remains as strong as ever. The work continues because they deserve nothing less.”

Toxic claims

Fast-forward to Saturday, Dr Chandauka then gave an interview to the Financial Times, where she claimed Harry’s ‘toxic’ brand in the wake of his Netflix show and bombshell memoir, where he had railed against the Royal Family, had affected the charity.

She claimed the controversy surrounding Harry’s move to the US had affected the charity’s ability to diversify its donor base and make senior hires. “When you start to interview people, they’re asking questions about, well, these mixed messages around the patron”, she said.

She also accused Harry and fellow co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, of attempting to “force a failure” of the organisation, only to later position themselves as its saviours. Dr Chandauka also defended her record and issued a striking message stating: “The team is resolved that Sentebale will live on, with or without you.”

Meghan embroiled

In that same interview, Harry’s wife Meghan also became embroiled in the row by the charity chief. She claimed tension with Harry first stemmed back to April 2024, when she joined the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at a charity polo match. At that event, footage was captured of Meghan seemingly gesturing for Dr Chandauka to stand away from Harry during a photo call.

The charity chief alleges she was asked by the Sussex’s team to publicly defend Meghan after negative media coverage but she added: “I said no, we’re not setting a precedent by which we become an extension of the Sussex PR machine.”

Netflix row

In an extraordinary interview with Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Dr Chandauka took her claims even further – suggesting that allowing his Netflix show to film a Sentebale fund-raiser almost wrecked the event – and that Meghan caused a stir when she turned up with tennis icon Serena Williams.

Describing the fundraising polo event in Miami last year, Dr Chandauka claimed: “We had a very generous family that was happy for us to use their polo grounds at a material discount. And then, about a month before the event was about to take place, Prince Harry called the team and said: ‘I’m doing a Netflix show, and I would love to bring a camera crew.”

The Sussexes at a polo match in aid of Sentebale last year (Image: PA)

Dr Chandauka pointed out that no one involved in the fundraiser had agreed to appear on a TV show. Another problem was that the venue owners allegedly now saw the event as a commercial undertaking and named a high price, she said. She added: “We couldn’t afford it … so now we lost the venue.” Another venue was found but more chaos ensued when Harry’s wife Meghan, 43, decided at the last minute to turn up and brought 23-time grand slam tennis champion Ms Williams.”

Dr Chandauka said: “We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time… but we didn’t. The choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage.” On Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, the presenter asked Dr Chandauka whether Harry was the “No1 risk” to the charity. She said: “Yes”.

Bullying claims

Elsewhere in the explosive Sky News interview, she accused Harry of trying to ‘eject’ her from Sentebale through ‘bullying’ and ‘harassment’. She added: “Really, what Prince Harry wanted to do was to eject me from the organisation. It went on for months through bullying, harassment.” In response, Sir Trevor pressed: “What you’re essentially saying is that the Duke of Sussex is guilty of harassment and bullying and improper conduct in the governance of the charity?”

Dr Chandauka replied that Harry’s release of a “damaging piece of news to the outside world” amounted to an attack on her and was “an example of harassment and bullying at scale”.

‘Baseless attack’

Since Dr Chandauka’s latest interviews, representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented. However, a source close to the former trustees and patrons of Sentebale dismissed her comments as a “publicity stunt”. They added: “They remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth.”

Another source with detailed knowledge of the charity claims Dr Chandauka has herself been accused of bullying staff and manipulating the minutes of board meetings. The source said one report being looked at by the Charity Commission will include concerns regarding Chandauka’s governance as well as her “manipulation of minutes to endorse her false claims of bullying and misogyny”, reports The Times.

Meghan breaks silence

Meanwhile, Meghan ignored the bitter row when she took to Instagram yesterday with a new post. Marking Mother’s Day in the UK, she posted a photograph of a lemon cake and wrote: “Our family tradition. Mothering Sunday in the UK.” The short caption alludes to her time in the UK before the couple quit as working royals in favour of a life in the States.

Meanwhile, the Charity Commission said it was “aware of concerns about the governance” of Sentebale. “We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,” the commission added.