Prince Harry ‘devastated’ after resigning from African charity

Britain's Prince Harry speaks during a high level event sponsored by Lesotho at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, file)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Prince Harry resigned as a patron of an African charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, citing the breakdown of the relationship between members of the board and the chairwoman.

The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded Sentebale in 2006, said in a joint statement Tuesday they had quit “with heavy hearts” as patrons until further notice in support of the trustees in their dispute with chairwoman Sophie Chandauka.

“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,” the princes said.

“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. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.”

Chandauka said she had reported Sentebale’s trustees to the Charity Commission in the U.K. and had filed papers in a British court to prevent her removal. In a statement, she made allegations of misconduct at the charity without naming anyone.

“Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to (the) press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir,” Chandauka said.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso also said they would approach the Charity Commission, a government department in the U.K. that regulates philanthropic organizations.

“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,” Harry and Seeiso said in their statement.

“Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.”

Britain’s Press Association reported that the Charity Commission said it was “aware of concerns about the governance” of Sentebale, which is registered in the U.K., and was assessing the issues.

Sentebale, which means “don’t forget me” in the Sesotho language of Lesotho and South Africa, focuses on helping children and young people affected by AIDS. It works in Lesotho, a tiny mountainous nation surrounded by South Africa, and Botswana.

Harry co-founded the charity after he spent time working at an orphanage in Lesotho during a gap year. He last visited Sentebale in Lesotho in October, when he spent time talking with young people and others connected to the charity around a campfire.

At that event, he told them: “You might not always realize how significant your influence is, but if it changes even one person’s life, it’s worth it.”

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Written by Gerald Imray, The Associated Press

Associated Press writer Keketso Phakela in Maseru, Lesotho, contributed to this report.