Los Angeles, California – The chair of the charity co-founded by Prince Harry has accused him of engaging in “harassment and bullying at scale,” following his recent resignation announcement. In an interview with Sky News, Sentebale chair Sophie Chandauka criticized Harry for allegedly orchestrating a damaging release of information without her knowledge or that of the organization’s leadership. Chandauka described this action as an example of bullying and harassment affecting not only herself but also the 540 individuals associated with Sentebale and their families.
Prince Harry, along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, founded Sentebale in 2006 to address health issues like HIV and AIDS, wealth disparity, and climate resilience in Lesotho and Botswana. The charity, created in honor of their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato of Lesotho, saw both princes step down as patrons following a dispute between the chairperson and the board of trustees. Harry and Seeiso indicated that the breakdown in the relationship between the board and the chairperson had become irreparable, prompting the chair’s departure from the organization.
While the trustees had requested the chairperson’s resignation in consideration of staff well-being, details surrounding the cause of this request remain undisclosed. Despite legal action taken by the chairperson to retain her position, Harry and Seeiso plan to bring these concerns to the attention of Britain’s Charity Commission for further investigation. The commission confirmed they are evaluating the governance issues at Sentebale to determine appropriate next steps.
In response to Chandauka’s allegations of a toxic work environment within the charity, former Sentebale trustee Kelello Lerotholi expressed surprise, claiming the board upheld a respectful and collaborative atmosphere during his tenure. Chandauka, on the other hand, has accused certain board members of disrupting her leadership and mistreating her based on gender bias.
While Chandauka highlighted her positive relationship with Prince Harry personally, she pointed out ongoing challenges she faced within the charity’s leadership. The Duke of Sussex, who now resides in California with his wife Meghan and their children, has yet to respond to recent developments within Sentebale. As the situation unfolds, questions about governance, accountability, and workplace culture at the charity continue to surface, bringing attention to the dynamics of charitable organizations and their internal operations.