Harry, Duke of Sussex, expresses deep disappointment over a remark made by his former charity about Princess Diana, which he finds inappropriate. He is reportedly battling intense emotional distress as a result.
Prince Harry's decision to step down as patron of the charity Sentebale, which he co-founded 19 years ago, was prompted by a severe breakdown in leadership and governance between the charity's board of trustees and its chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
The core dispute involved allegations from both sides. Harry and the trustees accused Chandauka of gross mismanagement, including unapproved spending of over $600,000 on consultants, causing financial strain, and contributing to the collapse of their major 2024 fundraising event, the Polo Cup. Chandauka, in turn, accused Harry and others of bullying, harassment, misogyny, and abuse of power.
An investigation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales found no evidence to support Chandauka’s accusations of widespread bullying or harassment, nor any overreach by Harry or Chandauka. Despite governance failings on both sides, Chandauka was allowed to remain as chairwoman with regulatory oversight.
The dispute also involved a sensitive issue where Chandauka invoked the memory of Princess Diana—Prince Harry’s late mother—in the public dispute, which Harry criticized as being in "the poorest possible taste." The chairwoman’s use of Diana’s name in the conflict added to Harry’s emotional distress given that Sentebale was co-founded by him in her memory to help vulnerable children in Southern Africa.
After the report, Dr. Chandauka released a statement acknowledging the turbulence but expressing gratitude for the vision of the charity's founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso. However, Harry is reportedly exploring new avenues to make a difference, similar to how Princess Diana would.
The source close to Harry also described the situation as a hostile takeover by Dr. Chandauka. Harry is emotionally devastated and drained after losing the battle for control of Sentebale. The princes resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale in March 2025.
It's important to note that there is no information provided about any demands from Prince William regarding his cousin's wedding or Meghan's latest moves affecting Harry and Charles' reunion plans.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso established Sentebale as a multi-million pound charity, putting in significant effort, including their own money, to build it from the ground up. The charity, which aims to help vulnerable children in Southern Africa, has been placed under financial strain according to its own statement.
References: 1. BBC News (2025). Prince Harry quits charity Sentebale amid leadership row. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61230449 2. The Guardian (2025). Harry accuses Sentebale chair of using Princess Diana's name in 'poorest possible taste'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/15/harry-accuses-sentebale-chair-of-using-princess-dianas-name-in-poorest-possible-taste 3. The Telegraph (2025). Charity Commission investigates claims of bullying and misogyny at Sentebale. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/12/charity-commission-investigates-claims-bullying-misogyny-sentebale/ 4. The Independent (2025). Charity Commission finds no evidence of widespread bullying or harassment at Sentebale. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/charity-commission-sentebale-bullying-harassment-b2304900.html 5. The Times (2025). Sentebale row: Sophie Chandauka denies bullying claims and accuses Harry of misogyny. [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sentebale-row-sophie-chandauka-denies-bullying-claims-and-accuses-harry-of-misogyny-qj2g3z68t
- The controversy surrounding the charity Sentebale, co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, extended to accusations of mismanagement in celebrity circles, as Harry's style on addressing the issues starkly contrasted with the chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka's, in terms of entertainment and public discourse.
- In theaftermath of the controversial conflict within Sentebale, Prince Harry, detached from the charity, is reportedly seeking a new approach to replicate the impact of his late mother, Princess Diana, within the realm of entertainment and celebrities.
