Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Face Backlash Over Alleged Failure to Donate to Sentebale Amid MI6 Investigation

A recent document claims that an MI6 investigation has revealed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, did not financially contribute to Sentebale, a charity Harry co-founded in 2006 to support vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. This alleged revelation, dated prior to April 24, 2025, has sparked significant controversy, casting doubt on the couple’s public image as dedicated philanthropists. However, the lack of corroborating evidence, combined with conflicting reports and the Sussexes’ documented history with Sentebale, raises questions about the validity of these claims and suggests a possible exaggeration or misrepresentation of the situation.

The Allegation: No Financial Contributions to Sentebale

The document asserts that MI6, the British intelligence agency, conducted an “extensive investigation” and uncovered “solid evidence” showing that Harry and Meghan did not donate any funds to Sentebale, despite their public claims of supporting the charity. Sentebale, meaning “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, was co-founded by Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to honor their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato, by aiding children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. The document frames this as a “deliberate misrepresentation,” accusing the couple of projecting a charitable image for self-promotion while failing to contribute financially, despite their substantial earnings from Netflix, Spotify, and publishing deals since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.

The document further suggests that Meghan played a pivotal role in this alleged deception, leveraging her media-savvy skills to craft a “kind-hearted royal” persona that masked their lack of genuine philanthropy. It claims that their failure to donate to Sentebale undermines their assertions of financial independence from the royal family and suggests that their departure from royal life was motivated by financial gain rather than a desire for freedom or a commitment to charitable causes.

Examining the Claims: A Critical Look

While the allegations are serious, there are several reasons to approach them with skepticism. First, the involvement of MI6 in investigating the financial contributions of a private citizen to a charity is highly unusual. MI6 is a foreign intelligence service focused on national security, not a body tasked with auditing charitable donations. The document does not provide specific details about the investigation, such as dates, methods, or official statements from MI6, which raises doubts about its authenticity. No credible news outlets, such as the BBC, The New York Times, or The Guardian, have reported on an MI6 investigation into Harry and Meghan’s charitable contributions as of April 24, 2025.

Second, the claim that Harry and Meghan made “no financial contributions” to Sentebale contradicts documented evidence. According to a Daily Mail report from April 3, 2025, friends of Harry stated that he has raised over £12 million for Sentebale since its inception and donated more than £1 million from the sales of his 2023 memoir, Spare. A BBC article from April 3, 2025, also noted that Sentebale itself described the Spare donation as “incredibly useful,” though it emphasized that it did not represent a long-term funding pipeline. Additionally, a People article from March 30, 2025, mentioned that Harry donated $1.5 million from Spare to the charity, further corroborating his financial contributions. These reports directly challenge the document’s assertion of zero monetary support.

Third, the document’s narrative aligns with a broader pattern of criticism against the Sussexes, often amplified by sensationalist media. It echoes recent controversies, such as the Sentebale boardroom dispute that led to Harry’s resignation as patron on March 26, 2025, alongside Prince Seeiso and several trustees. Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the charity’s chair, accused Harry of “harassment and bullying at scale” and claimed the “toxicity” of his brand—stemming from his royal exit, the 2022 Netflix docuseries, and Spare—had deterred donors, as reported by the Financial Times and Sky News in late March 2025. However, Chandauka’s allegations focused on governance issues and public perception, not a lack of financial contributions from Harry. The Charity Commission’s ongoing investigation into Sentebale, announced on April 3, 2025, centers on governance concerns, not the Sussexes’ donations, according to the BBC and The New York Times.

The Sussexes’ Financial Context and Charitable Work

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have pursued financial independence through commercial ventures, including a reported $100 million Netflix deal, a Spotify partnership (which ended in 2023), and Harry’s memoir. Their Netflix projects, such as With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025, have been successful, with the docuseries ranking among Netflix’s top 10 most-watched shows, according to Fox News. Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched in February 2025, also saw its debut collection sell out in minutes, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar on April 2, 2025. These ventures indicate significant financial resources, which the document argues should have been used to support Sentebale if the couple were genuinely committed to philanthropy.

However, the Sussexes have also faced financial scrutiny. A Hindustan Times article from October 19, 2024, reported that over $6 million was allegedly “missing” from their Archewell Foundation, though no follow-up evidence has confirmed this claim. Posts on X, such as one by @TribesBritannia on April 16, 2025, have accused the couple of using Sentebale’s American arm to fund their lifestyle, though these claims lack substantiation and reflect public sentiment rather than verified facts. The document’s assertion that their wealth “remained untouched” for charitable purposes overlooks Harry’s documented donations to Sentebale and their broader charitable efforts through Archewell, which has supported initiatives like mental health and gender equity.

A Pattern of Public Criticism

The document’s narrative fits into a larger pattern of criticism against Harry and Meghan, often fueled by their rocky relationship with the royal family and media. Their Oprah interview in 2021, the 2022 Netflix docuseries, and Spare have been financially rewarding but have also drawn accusations of exploiting royal ties for personal gain, as noted in the earlier document about King Charles cutting ties with Harry over an alleged $50 million charity scandal. That document, also unverified, claimed Harry demanded funds to cover up financial misconduct, a narrative that parallels the current allegations of misrepresentation.

Public sentiment on X reflects growing frustration with the Sussexes. Posts from users like @according2_taz on March 30, 2025, argue that their attacks on the royal family for monetary gain have harmed Sentebale’s donations, while @LouLouLa10 on April 14, 2025, called Sentebale a “vanity PR project” for the couple. These sentiments, while not evidence, highlight a perception that the Sussexes prioritize image over substance—a perception the document amplifies by framing their lack of donations as a deliberate deception.

Meghan’s Role and the Timing of the Allegation

The document singles out Meghan as the mastermind behind the alleged misrepresentation, accusing her of using her media skills to craft a false charitable image. This aligns with criticisms from the Sentebale dispute, where Chandauka claimed Meghan disrupted a 2024 polo event by arriving unannounced with Serena Williams and a Netflix crew, as reported by the Daily Mail on March 30, 2025. Chandauka also alleged that Harry asked her to defend Meghan against negative publicity, a request she refused, fearing it would turn Sentebale into an “extension of the Sussex PR machine,” according to the Financial Times.

The timing of this alleged MI6 revelation—coming shortly after Meghan’s Time100 Summit appearance on April 23, 2025, where she shared a heartwarming update about Prince Archie losing his first tooth—suggests a possible attempt to counter her positive press. Meghan’s recent successes, including the rapid sell-out of As Ever products and the renewal of With Love, Meghan for a second season, have bolstered her public image, as noted in the earlier analysis. The document’s focus on her role in the alleged deception may reflect an effort to undermine her credibility at a time when she is gaining momentum as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

A Broader Perspective: The Royal Family and Philanthropy

The document also claims that the Sussexes’ failure to donate to Sentebale undermines their narrative of unfair treatment by the British monarchy and media. However, this argument overlooks the broader context of royal philanthropy and financial scrutiny. King Charles himself has faced allegations of financial impropriety, such as the 2021 cash-for-honors scandal involving The Prince’s Foundation, where a Saudi billionaire allegedly sought a knighthood in exchange for donations, as reported by The Guardian and AP News. Charles responded by banning large cash donations, showing a commitment to transparency, but a 2024 Newsweek report also accused him and Prince William of “corruption” for profiting from public services through their Duchies. These controversies suggest that financial scrutiny is not unique to Harry and Meghan but is a systemic issue within the royal family.

Moreover, the Sussexes’ decision to step back from royal duties was partly driven by their desire for financial independence, a goal they have pursued through commercial ventures. While the document criticizes their focus on “high-profile interviews, book deals, and brand endorsements,” these activities have also funded their charitable work through Archewell and supported causes like Sentebale, as evidenced by Harry’s Spare donation. The expectation that they should personally donate large sums to Sentebale may overlook the structural challenges they face as non-working royals, including the loss of public funding and security, which Harry is currently contesting in the UK Court of Appeal, as reported by HELLO! on April 8, 2025.

Conclusion: A Questionable Narrative

The alleged MI6 investigation claiming that Harry and Meghan made no financial contributions to Sentebale lacks credible evidence and contradicts documented reports of Harry’s donations, including over £1 million from Spare. The involvement of MI6 in such a matter is implausible, and the document’s sensational tone—coupled with its timing amid Meghan’s recent positive press—suggests it may be an attempt to discredit the couple during a period of heightened scrutiny over Sentebale’s governance issues. While the Sussexes have faced legitimate criticism for their handling of Sentebale and their public image, the claim of zero financial support appears exaggerated and unsupported.

Harry and Meghan’s journey since 2020 has been marked by both successes and challenges, from their commercial ventures to their ongoing rift with the royal family. Their charitable efforts, while not without flaws, have included significant contributions to causes like Sentebale, as well as broader advocacy through Archewell. As public scrutiny intensifies, the truth behind their philanthropy will likely continue to be debated, but for now, this “shocking revelation” should be viewed with caution, as it fails to align with the available evidence and may reflect a broader agenda to undermine their credibility.