There was ‘no proof’ of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny at Prince Harry’s charity after he give up spectacularly as patron of a charity.
The Duke of Sussex, alongside his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and several other trustees, resigned from Sentebale earlier this yr.
The Charity Fee investigated the charity after a whistleblower contacted them in regards to the ‘damaging’ dispute, which performed out publicly.
Dr Sophie Chandauka will stay in place in her management position, and no sanctions have been imposed on the charity, however the fee has criticised ‘all events’ over the drama.
A spokesperson for Harry stated elements of the reviews had fallen ‘troublingly brief’, whereas Dr Chandauka stated the ‘adversarial media marketing campaign’ from those that had resigned brought on ‘incalculable harm’ to the charity.
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The Charity Fee’s Sentebale probe: What did they discover?
The furore started in 2023 when Sentebale’s trustees prompt bringing in a brand new fundraising technique within the US.
This led to a severe dispute between the chair of trustees, Dr Chandauka, different trustees, and Prince Harry, one of many charity’s patrons.
The trustees wished Dr Chandauka to resign over the dispute, however she refused.
She went on to sue the charity and lift her issues with the Charity Fee, who opened an investigation in April to make sure all the charity’s present and former trustees fulfilled their duties below charity legislation.
Their findings, printed right this moment, revealed:
- The delegation of sure powers to the chair, together with consideration of an ‘govt chair’ position, was a complicated, convoluted and poorly ruled course of, with a scarcity of clearly outlined delegations over time
- The then trustees did not have correct processes and insurance policies in place to research inner complaints
- Extra usually, a scarcity of clear insurance policies contributed to the failure to resolve disputes
- It was not happy that public statements made to the media and public criticism made in tv interviews, have been performed in a manner that served the charity’s greatest pursuits
- It discovered no proof of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, together with misogyny or misogynoir on the charity. Nonetheless, the fee acknowledged the robust notion of sick remedy felt by a variety of events to the dispute and the influence this may occasionally have had on them personally
- It additionally discovered no proof of ‘over-reach’ by both the chair or the Duke of Sussex as patron, however the fee is vital of the dearth of readability in delegations to the chair which allowed for misunderstandings to happen
The report concluded: ‘All of the charity’s then trustees contributed to a missed alternative to resolve points which led to the dispute.
‘Strategic and monetary difficulties that had emerged for the charity following the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to the tensions that arose.
‘As made clear to all events on this case, if disputes do happen, the regulator recommends searching for mediation, displaying good will and performing in good religion.
‘It additionally encourages all trustees to be aware to channel their perception within the charity’s mission in a constructive and collaborative manner.’
Why did Prince Harry resign from the charity?
Prince Harry stated in a joint assertion with Prince Seeiso on the time: ‘With heavy hearts, now we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation till additional discover, in help of and solidarity with the board of trustees who’ve needed to do the identical.
‘It’s devastating that the connection between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down past restore, creating an untenable scenario.
‘These trustees acted in the perfect curiosity of the charity in asking the chair to step down, whereas protecting the wellbeing of workers in thoughts.
‘In flip, she sued the charity to stay on this voluntary place, additional underscoring the damaged relationship.’
The princes additionally stated they’d be ‘sharing all of our issues with the Charity Fee as to how this took place’.
Former trustees who additionally stepped down – Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West – stated the choice is ‘nothing in need of devastating’ for all of them.
They added in an announcement: ‘This was not a alternative willingly made, however fairly one thing we felt compelled into to be able to take care of the charity.’
Who’s Dr Sophie Chandauka and why did she sue the charity?
Dr Sophie Chandauka is the chair of trustees at Sentebale. The dispute throughout the charity escalated after she refused to step down from her place.
In an announcement on the time, she stated: ‘There are folks on this world who behave as if they’re above the legislation and mistreat folks, after which play the sufferer card and use the very press they disdain to hurt individuals who have the braveness to problem their conduct.’
She added this was the ‘story of a girl who dared to blow the whistle about problems with poor governance, weak govt administration, abuse of energy, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued’.
The assertion continued: ‘For me, this isn’t a conceit challenge from which I can resign when I’m known as to account. I’m an African who has had the privilege of a worldclass training and profession.
‘I can’t be intimidated. I have to stand for one thing. I stand for these different ladies who shouldn’t have the methods and means.
‘I’m indebted to those that have stood by me and picked up my pressing name for assist in order that we will proceed the mission at Sentebale.
‘I’ll proceed to faithfully carry out my position as chair of the board, and I stay up for the chance to work with others who’re eager about problems with well being, wealth and local weather resilience for younger folks in Africa.’
Dr Chandauka continues to be chair of the board of trustees at Sentebale, and has been since July 2023.
Based mostly in New York, she is chair and co-founder of Nandi Life Sciences, a funding firm which helps scientists creating remedies for uncommon illnesses and autoimmune issues.
What’s the Sentebale charity and what’s subsequent?
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Sentebale was based by Harry in 2006 and aimed to deal with the influence HIV and Aids has on younger folks dwelling in Botswana and Lesotho.
Harry set it up with Prince Seeiso, whose mom died in 2003, after he visited Lesotho throughout his hole yr.
The geographical focus of the charity centres on Lesotho and Botswana and a part of the row focusses round a call to focus fundraising largely in Africa.
Sentebale says it’s on observe to assist no less than 78,000 kids and younger folks throughout each African nations in 2025.
What have royal consultants stated?
Royal professional Richard Fitzwilliam advised Metro that Prince Harry will likely be taking this information personally due to his deep affinity to Africa.
He stated: ‘Harry is deeply dedicated to Sentebale so I used to be shocked to listen to the information this morning.
‘It’s vital to him as a result of he has labored to raise the stigma surrounding HIV and Aids in a few of the poorest nations in Africa.
‘The charity can be near his coronary heart as a result of it was based in his mom’s Diana’s reminiscence.
‘His involvement within the charity and with Africa is profound so he will likely be feeling this loss deeply.
‘It actually looks as if there might be a prolonged court docket battle forward and extra particulars may doubtlessly emerge however solely time will inform.
‘When it comes to the way it will influence Harry’s public picture, that is determined by what’s but to return.’
The charity restructured its board in March 2025, making it smaller, and says that consequently it has ‘proved agile and capable of reply rapidly to the wants of the organisation and necessities of the Charity Fee’.
It additionally says it has decreased its prices by about 25% on a yearly foundation, and has put in place an motion plan to deal with governance points raised by the fee.
Dr Chandauka stated in an announcement launched right this moment: ‘I respect the Charity Fee for its conclusions which affirm the governance issues I raised privately in February 2025.
‘The expertise was intense, and it grew to become a check of our strategic readability and operational resilience.
‘I thank each devoted colleague and the brave new board members who’ve stayed centered on the mission within the face of unprecedented media glare.
‘We’re rising not simply grateful to have survived, however stronger: extra centered, higher ruled, boldly formidable and with our dignity intact.
‘Regardless of the current turbulence, we are going to all the time be impressed by the imaginative and prescient of our Founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in reminiscence of their valuable moms, Princess Diana and Queen ‘Mamohato.’
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