Prince Harry Resigns from Sentebale Amid Leadership Dispute
On March 25, Prince Harry made a significant announcement regarding his involvement with Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. He revealed that he had stepped down as a patron of the organization after a prolonged and contentious dispute between the charity’s chair and its board of trustees came to light. In a show of solidarity with five board members who had recently resigned, Harry decided to withdraw from his role.
The five trustees—Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West—expressed their concerns in a joint statement, citing a loss of “trust and confidence” in the chair, Sophie Chandauka. The situation escalated when Ms. Chandauka, who was appointed to her position in 2023, allegedly responded to the trustees’ calls for her resignation by initiating legal action in Britain aimed at preventing their dismissal from the board.
The former trustees stated that they were compelled to resign to prevent the charity from bearing the financial burden of the ongoing lawsuit. In their statement, they emphasized, “We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions. This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity.”
Both Ms. Chandauka and the departing trustees have leveled serious allegations against each other, and each party has claimed to have submitted evidence and formal complaints to the Charity Commission in Britain. The unfolding drama raises questions about the future of Sentebale and its mission to support vulnerable children in southern Africa.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this leadership upheaval will impact the charity’s operations and the initiatives it supports.
