London, England – The chairperson of an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry is speaking out against the royal, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign of bullying and harassment. Sophie Chandauka, the Chair of Sentebale, made these accusations in response to Prince Harry’s sudden resignation from the organization he helped establish nearly two decades ago. In a statement to Sky News, Chandauka detailed how Prince Harry’s personal endeavors, such as his Netflix deal, clashed with the charity’s activities, causing friction within the organization.
Chandauka’s allegations against Prince Harry also extend to an incident involving his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The Duke of Sussex cited a breakdown in the relationship between the charity’s board members and Chandauka as the reason for his resignation as a patron. He and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned in support of the trustees in their dispute with Chandauka, stating that the relationship had broken down beyond repair.
Chandauka, however, disputes this narrative, claiming that she reported the charity’s trustees to the Charity Commission in the U.K. and took legal action to prevent her removal. She alleges misconduct within the charity, citing abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir. Despite Harry’s resignation catching her off guard, Chandauka asserts that it was an act of harassment and bullying.
Moreover, Chandauka revealed that donor support for Sentebale significantly declined after Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from their official royal duties in January 2020. The charity, originally focused on aiding youth affected by AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, now aims to address youth health, wealth, and climate resilience in southern Africa. Chandauka warned that the toxicity of Prince Harry’s brand posed a risk to the charity.
A source close to the charity’s patrons and trustees countered Chandauka’s claims, stating that Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso had planned their resignation weeks before making it public. The source mentioned a fundraiser in Miami that almost fell apart due to Harry’s Netflix documentary filming, which led to an uncomfortable moment during the event involving Meghan. Chandauka refused to issue a statement in support of Meghan, emphasizing the charity’s independence from the royal couple’s affairs.