Prince Harry resigns as patron of Southern Africa charity

|Published 12:35 PM ET, Wednesday March 26, 2025|

Prince Harry has resigned as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. This decision follows internal conflicts within the organization’s leadership, particularly involving disputes between the board of trustees and the chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. ​

The trustees had requested Dr. Chandauka to step down, citing concerns over governance and management. In response, Dr. Chandauka initiated legal action to retain her position, leading to a breakdown in the organization’s leadership structure. Subsequently, several trustees resigned, and both Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down as patrons in solidarity with the departing trustees. ​

Dr. Chandauka has publicly alleged issues of poor governance, abuse of power, and discrimination within Sentebale. She has reported these concerns to the UK’s Charity Commission, which is currently assessing the situation to determine appropriate regulatory actions. ​

The Zimbabwe-born lawyer said this was “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, misogynoir -– and the coverup that ensued.

“For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account,” she said.

In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their devastation over the developments, emphasizing their continued commitment to the charity’s mission despite stepping down from their formal roles. They highlighted the importance of addressing the internal issues to ensure Sentebale’s ongoing support for vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana. ​

Harry and Seeiso decided to resign after the relationship “broke down beyond repair”, they said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

“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,” the statement said.

This leadership upheaval presents significant challenges for Sentebale’s operations and its beneficiaries. The outcomes of the Charity Commission’s investigation and the organization’s efforts to resolve internal disputes will be crucial in determining its future direction and ability to fulfill its mission.

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