The abrupt resignation of Prince Harry of Sentebale, the African charitable organization which he co -founded almost two decades ago, exposed a deep fragment with its president, Dr. Sophie Chandauka – a dispute now at the center of a public controversy on governance, power and allegations of denunciation.
In a joint statement with the Prince Seeiso co-founder of Lesotho, Harry announced his departure on Wednesday, calling for the “devastating” situation and accusing Chandauka of creating an “untenable” environment. The two Royals resigned from solidarity with several administrators who also resigned, citing irreconcilable differences with the president appointed in 2023.
The tensions would have emerged shortly after the appointment of Chandauka, the trustees opposing his leadership style and his decision to move fundraising operations in Africa. The questions degenerated when she filed a legal action against the charitable organization after being invited to resign – a move that Harry and Seeiso say illustrates the “broken relationship”.
The resignation was followed by a strong response from Chandauka, a lawyer born in Zimbabwe, who said Time She had been an exposing denunciator “intimidation, harassment, misogyny and bad governance” within the organization. “There are people in this world who behave as if they were above the law,” she said, accusing anonymous figures to use the media to manipulate public sympathy.
Adding to the tragedy, a clip resurfaced from April 2024 made renewed control. In this document, Meghan Markle seems to have a gesture so that Chandauka does not stand next to Harry during a Polo Match photo shoot. Although the trio smiles for cameras later, the reports suggest that the rift had already taken root.
Chandauka defended its actions as being in accordance with the mission and values of the charitable organization, affirming: “All that I do in Sentebale is in the pursuit of the integrity of the organization and the young people we serve.” She rejected the idea that Sentebale was a “vanity project” for its founders, describing itself rather as a challenger of institutional misconduct.
In their statement, Harry and Seeiso expressed the sorrow of the decision, reiterating their continuous commitment to the cause of Sentebale. “We are really a broken heart … but we have a continuous responsibility for the beneficiaries of Sentebale,” they wrote, committing to raising their concerns with regard to the charity.
Although the future leadership of the Foundation remains uncertain, its mission – supporting children and young people affected by HIV / AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana – continues. The resignation of its large -scale patrons and its internal conflicts sparked a broader discussion on charitable governance and the pressures facing the organizations led by public figures.
The representatives of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Sentebale have not yet issued comments.
