Harry Shuns 'Tarnished' Charity, Says Reunion Is Impossible

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The Breakdown of a Royal Charity

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has permanently severed ties with Sentebale, the HIV/AIDS charity he founded in Lesotho nearly 20 years ago to honor his late mother, Princess Diana. This decision came after a bitter dispute with the charity’s chair, Sophie Chandauka. Sources close to the organization have confirmed that the duke will never rejoin the charity he co-founded in 2006.

The duke stepped down as patron in March following a public clash with Ms. Chandauka, who accused him of bullying, racism, and misogyny—claims he denied. A source close to the charity revealed, “The idea that Harry was ever going to return has been completely extinguished.” Another added, “There's absolutely no way now. It's all too tarnished.”

Both Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned their patronages, describing the circumstances as “untenable.” The charity's finances have deteriorated dramatically since the public row erupted, with reserves plummeting from £1.5 million to just £207,000 within 16 months when debts were accounted for by December 2024. The organization acknowledged this figure sat perilously close to its minimum reserves threshold.

Sweeping job cuts have followed across three continents in an attempt to slash expenditure by £1 million. London operations were closed in August, leaving only a single staff member, while one in five employees in Botswana lost their positions, including country director Ketlogetswe Montshiwa. Sources in Botswana described the charity as “not working at all” with “a real cash flow problem,” while Lesotho operations were reportedly “getting into the red.”

The cancellation of the Sentebale Polo Cup two years ago compounded matters, eliminating £740,000 in annual fundraising revenue.

Origins of the Crisis

The crisis originated when board members confronted Ms. Chandauka over a £400,000 consultancy bill they claimed had delivered minimal value. When trustees requested her resignation as chair, she responded by filing a complaint with the Charity Commission, alleging bullying, misogyny, and racism within the organization. Trustees subsequently departed en masse, characterizing her leadership approach as “almost dictatorial” in style.

Mrs. Chandauka then escalated the conflict publicly, telling the press that the duke had attempted to “eject” her through “bullying” and “harassment”—claims Prince Harry rejected. The very public nature of the falling out proved devastating for the charity's standing. Donations dried up as the dispute dominated headlines, while the board experienced a wave of resignations that left the organization in turmoil.

The Charity Commission condemned both parties for allowing their dispute to unfold in public view, stating the conflict had “severely impacted the charity's reputation.”

Financial Struggles and Operational Challenges

Despite the turmoil, Sentebale maintains it remains financially viable and fully operational. Following its September audit, the charity told The Times it was “financially stable and able to continue operating as planned, with robust strategic plans for 2025 and 2026 that remain unchanged.” The organization disputed claims its Lesotho headquarters had been vacant, insisting the center “remains fully operational.”

It also stated the Botswana redundancies had been planned since 2023, before the controversy began. In its annual report, Sentebale committed to directly supporting at least 78,000 children and young people across Lesotho and Botswana, matching or surpassing its 2024 reach.

A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex said: “The Duke has made multiple representations to the Charity Commission, setting out his concerns regarding Sentebale’s governance and, in the interests of its beneficiary community, has urged the appropriate regulatory bodies to maintain close oversight of the charity’s activities.”