Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying claims at the African charity he co-founded, but the drama surrounding Sentebale is far from over.
According to Fox News, the Duke of Sussex was absolved of wrongdoing by the Charity Commission for England and Wales in their recent findings, though the investigation revealed governance missteps and public spats that have tarnished the charity’s image.
Let’s rewind to the roots of this saga: Sentebale, established nearly two decades ago by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, was inspired by Harry’s gap-year visit to Lesotho and created to honor their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato, while aiding children in poverty and those affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The charity has been a beacon of hope, aiming to serve over 78,000 young people this year alone, a figure that matches or exceeds last year’s impact, according to the current chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
But trouble brewed behind the scenes, starting with a governance review initiated by Chandauka in early 2024, which former trustees welcomed but noted never produced actionable results even after two years of her leadership.
By early 2025, tensions escalated as Chandauka raised private concerns about governance, only for the dispute to spill into the public eye, a move the Charity Commission later criticized as damaging to Sentebale’s reputation.
Then came the resignations—Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and fellow trustees stepped down in March 2025, citing an irreparable breakdown with Chandauka, whom a source close to the former patrons called the architect of a “hostile takeover.”
Chandauka, for her part, claimed an “adverse media campaign” by the resigned trustees caused “incalculable damage,” pointing fingers at their private behaviors in a statement that’s raised more than a few eyebrows.
Adding fuel to the fire, Chandauka aired grievances in a media interview about an incident at the 2024 Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida, where Harry’s request for a Netflix crew spiked costs and forced a venue change, while Meghan Markle’s unexpected appearance with a celebrity friend led to awkward stage moments.
She even refused Harry’s request to publicly support Meghan after the polo fiasco, stating, “I knew what would happen if I did so,” suggesting Sentebale shouldn’t be an extension of the Sussexes’ brand— a stance that’s hard to argue with when charity should trump celebrity.
The Charity Commission’s report found no evidence of widespread bullying or harassment at Sentebale, nor any overreach by Harry or Chandauka, but it didn’t shy away from slamming all parties for letting internal disputes become a public circus.
A spokesperson for Harry told the media, “The consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her — but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.” That’s a gut punch of a point; when egos clash, it’s the vulnerable who suffer most.
Chandauka, undeterred, painted herself as a survivor of intense scrutiny, thanking her team and new board for staying mission-focused, while invoking the founders’ vision—a move a source close to the former trustees called “appalling” for personal gain.
Ultimately, this mess reveals a deeper issue: when progressive posturing and personal agendas infiltrate even well-meaning charities, the mission gets lost in the noise, and public trust in such organizations takes a hit. Sentebale’s work for children in need must rise above this squabble, or the real tragedy will be the forgotten faces of Lesotho and Botswana.
