PRINCE Harry has been in a blistering row with the boss of his charity Sentebale after he sensationally quit the trust.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, had set the African charity up in 2006 in memory of his mum, Princess Diana, along with his pal Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.

4

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho have both quit the charity they set up in 2006Credit: Getty

4

They have been in an ongoing bitter feud with Dr. Sophie Chandauka, chair of SentebaleCredit: Getty

4

The Duke of Sussex slammed Chandauka’s leadership as ‘untenable’ as he sensationally quit the charityCredit: Reuters
However, in a statement seen by The Times, the pair have now revealed they have sided with their charity’s furious trustees after they unanimously resigned following a row with board chair Sophie Chandauka.

The charity’s boss then released an explosive statement in which she slammed “unthinkable” infighting in the organisation as well as made claims that there had been a “cover-up”.

Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, was selected to be chair of the trustees last year.

However, it is understood the trustees strongly opposed this move and had wanted her to step down – a move which has seen her sue.

The bitter feud appeared to be triggered by the move to transfer the charity’s fundraising operation to Africa, which caused several key figures to quit the organisation.

In a statement given to the Mail, Chandauka alleged there had been “weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir”.

Misogynoir is the term used to describe discrimination against black women.

Princes Harry and Seeiso had said it was “devastating” to leave the charity, but slammed Chandauka for her “untenable” leadership.

They said this had forced them to consider the “unthinkable” decision of resigning.

In response, Chandauka appeared to suggest Harry and Seeiso were using the charity as a “vanity project”, saying she would not be “intimidated” by them.

Harry QUITTING his own charity is utterly humiliating – misogyny row will hurt him deeply
The board chair also slammed “people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people…then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain”.

She told The Sun she had acted with integrity as a “proud African” and that she “stand[s] for those other women who do not have the ways and means”.

Chandauka is understood to be suing the trustees over calls for her to stand down from the post.

In a statement, princes Harry and Seeiso said: “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same.

Prince Harry needs to stand up to ‘racism, sexism & bullying’ row at his charity – he can’t run and hide, expert says

PRINCE Harry needs to “stand up and fight

The Duke of Sussex, 40, has found himself at the centre of a bitter feud that has seen him resign for his beloved Sentebale organisation.

The decision came after a row with Dr Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, who was selected to be chair of the trustees last year.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun: “It’s a complicated story, Harry and the Prince of Lesotho have been obliged to resign because they are patrons of this charity.

“The charity is in trouble, because the new chairperson has had altercations with the board of trustees and she’s accusing them of misogyny. She’s accusing them of racism.

“And on this board of trustees are friends of Harry’s, including Mark Dyer, who helped him set up the charity.

“So it’s very personal to Harry, and he was obviously advised by his lawyers just to stand down for the moment because he couldn’t be embroiled in this kind of mess.”

The expert added: “Harry’s just going to have to stand up and fight for it if he can.

“But he’s going to have to do it behind the scenes.

“He can’t do it in a public way, because she might even try to sue Harry and the Prince of Lesotho.”

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”

They added: “What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.”

The Charity Commission has confirmed that an investigation is underway into the charity, which was set up to support those living with HIV and Aids in Africa.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale.

“We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.”

Sophie Chandauka’s full statement

Sophie Chandauka MBE told The Sun: “I chose to join Sentebale first and foremost as a proud African who understands that, in the spirit of ubuntu: to whom much is given, much is expected.

“Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve.

“My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means.

“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.

“Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission?

“Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?

“Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued.

“I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time.

“I have one job. I must focus on fundraising for the very important work of the young people who inspire the incredible team at Sentebale who make sacrifices daily at a time when geopolitics is severely impacting funding for development work in Africa.

“For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account.

“I am an African who has had the privilege of a worldclass education and career. I will not be intimidated.

“I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.

“I am indebted to those who have stood by me and picked up my urgent call for help so that we can continue the mission at Sentebale.

“I will continue to faithfully perform my role as Chair of the Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with others who are interested in issues of health, wealth and climate resilience for young people in Africa.”

Sentebale has not received formal resignations from either of the royal patrons, it is understood.

However, it confirmed to The Sun that a “restructuring” of the board had taken place.

Harry, who has also undertaken charity work with Meghan as part of The Archwell Foundation, set up Sentebale after visiting Lesotho on his gap year in 2004.

It was on the trip that he met his future co-founder, Prince Seeiso, who had also lost his mum the year before.

In the statement, the pair said they had started the charity, which means “forget-me-not”, in honour of their mums.

Timeline of events at Sentebale

2004: Prince Harry spends two months in Lesotho in a working visit during his gap year. Here he meets Aids orphans and vulnerable young people.

2006: Inspired by his visit two years prior, he setups up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, taking the name from the Sesotho language for the phrase “forget me not”.

2010: The first polo cup is held. Harry has regularly played in the annual tournament, helping to raise more than £11 million since the tournament’s creation.

2015: Harry attends the official opening of the charity’s flagship Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho.

2020: Following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back as senior royals, Harry made his first public speech to Sentebale.

2023: Sophie Chandauka is appointed to the role of chair after Johnny Horny resigns, following his five years in the position.

2024: Harry visits Lesotho in October for the first time in six years to showcase Sentebale’s work.

2025: In March, princes Harry and Seeiso release a joint statement announcing their resignation amid a row between the trustees and Chandauka.

In response, Chandauka slams “weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir” at the charity.

4

Prince Harry visiting some of Sentebale’s work in October last yearCredit: Getty