Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale Charity, Publicly Accuses Prince Harry of “Widespread Harassment and Bullying”

The controversy erupted after Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and the board of trustees stepped down from their patron roles last week.

The dispute now threatens the stability of Sentebale—a charity founded in 2006 that operates in Lesotho and Botswana to support youth affected by HIV/AIDS, social inequality, and climate change. The abrupt departure of its two royal co-founders has raised serious questions about the organization’s future, while also exposing internal governance conflicts.

Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in memory of their mothers—Princess Diana of the United Kingdom and Queen Mamohato of Lesotho—has been engulfed in a leadership dispute. The organization, established in 2006, primarily supports vulnerable children in southern Africa, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.

The controversy centers on allegations by Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the chair of Sentebale’s board, who accused Prince Harry of deploying the “Sussex machine” against her through the abrupt announcement of his resignation without prior notice to the leadership. In a joint statement to the British Press Association, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso described the relationship between the board and Chandauka as “irreparably broken,” creating an “untenable situation.” They revealed that trustees had asked Chandauka to resign due to concerns about staff welfare, but she responded by suing the charity to retain her voluntary position.

Chandauka countered these claims, asserting that she spoke out against issues such as poor governance, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, and discrimination—particularly misogyny and racism against women of color. Despite describing her experience working with Prince Harry as “excellent” and their relationship as “positive,” she alleged that some board members deliberately disrupted meetings and mistreated women.

This internal conflict led to the resignation of Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and several trustees from their roles within Sentebale. Both princes expressed their shock and disappointment over the situation but emphasized their continued commitment to Sentebale’s beneficiaries. They pledged to raise concerns with the UK Charity Commission regarding governance issues within the organization.

The UK Charity Commission has confirmed it is “assessing governance concerns at Sentebale to determine appropriate regulatory action,” following revelations of a lawsuit filed by Chair Sophie Chandauka on March 5. A spokesperson stated: “We are aware of the matter and will follow due process.”

Clashing Narratives Intensify
In a fiery appearance on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Chandauka framed the conflict as systemic abuse: “Can you imagine how this assault affects me, Sentebale’s 540 staff, and their families? This is textbook widespread bullying and harassment.”

Yet former trustee Kelello Lerotholi countered: “The board previously operated with mutual respect… These allegations leave me deeply shocked.”

A Charity at Crossroads
The dueling accounts expose deepening rifts within the organization, which manages critical HIV/AIDS and youth programs across Southern Africa. With legal battles looming and donors watching closely, Sentebale’s future now hinges on the Commission’s findings—and whether its founders’ legacies can survive the fallout.