In Cape Town, South Africa, Prince Harry has stepped down from his role as a patron of Sentebale, a prominent African charity he co-founded almost two decades ago to honor the legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana. The decision stemmed from irreparable differences between the board members of the charity and its chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka.
The Duke of Sussex, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, co-founded Sentebale in 2006. In a heartfelt joint statement released on Tuesday, both princes announced their resignation. They expressed their deep regret for the necessity of stepping back, supporting the trustees in their marked disagreement with Chandauka.
“It is heartbreaking that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board has reached a point beyond mending, resulting in an unbearable situation,” they remarked. The trustees acted with the charity’s best interests at heart when they requested the chairwoman’s resignation while considering staff welfare. However, Chandauka took legal action to retain her role, illustrating the fractured relations further.
Chandauka responded by reporting the charity’s trustees to the Charity Commission in the U.K. and pursued a legal route in a British court intending to forestall her dismissal. She alleged various instances of misconduct within Sentebale without specifying individuals or providing details.
“Beneath the portrayal of victimhood and the fabricated narratives shared with the media lies the account of a woman who bravely highlighted issues of governance failures, poor management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, and instances of both misogyny and misogynoir,” Chandauka stated.
Misogynoir is defined as the unique intersection of racism and misogyny experienced by Black women.
In light of these events, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso have decided to bring their concerns to the attention of the Charity Commission, a regulatory body overseeing nonprofit activities in the U.K.
“The current developments are inconceivable. It is with a heavy heart that we proceed with these actions, but our obligation to Sentebale’s beneficiaries remains steadfast. We will fully disclose our concerns to the Charity Commission regarding how this situation unfolded,” Harry and Seeiso declared. “Though our roles as patrons have ended, our identity as founders remains, and we remain hopeful about the charity’s potential when properly overseen.”
Britain’s Press Association noted that the Charity Commission is “aware of concerns regarding governance” at Sentebale, which is registered in the U.K., and is evaluating the situation.
Originally, Sentebale, meaning “don’t forget me” in the Sesotho language, was dedicated to supporting children and youths affected by AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. The organization is transitioning to tackle broader issues, including youth health, prosperity, and climate resilience across southern Africa. They clarified in a statement that they have not yet received official resignations from their royal patrons.
Harry initiated the charity in response to his experiences working at an orphanage in Lesotho during a gap year. He last visited the charity in Lesotho in October, engaging with youth and other associates of the organization.
To them, he reiterated, “Your influence, though often underestimated, holds the power to transform lives; even one life altered makes it all worthwhile.”