Meghan Markle Steps Away From Prince Harry to Navigate His Challenges Independently, Causing Surprise
In a surprising turn of events, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has chosen not to publicly show her support for Prince Harry in his ongoing dispute with Sentebale, the charity he co-founded. This silence comes after a series of public conflicts involving governance issues and tensions between Prince Harry and Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the charity's chairwoman [1][2][3].
The dispute reached a boiling point in March 2025 when Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso resigned as patrons of Sentebale following a bitter boardroom clash. The Charity Commission investigated the matter and found no evidence of bullying or harassment, but criticized governance failures and unclear leadership roles that led to public tensions damaging the charity’s credibility [1][4].
Dr. Chandauka publicly accused Harry’s camp of misconduct, which intensified the dispute. A viral moment in April 2024 showing Meghan apparently sidelining Dr. Chandauka at a charity polo event fueled speculation about internal frictions [1]. Harry described the Charity Commission report as “falling troublingly short,” and expressed devastation over what he views as a hostile takeover of Sentebale. Meanwhile, Dr. Chandauka and her supporters continue to manage the charity [4].
Meghan's silence in the face of this public controversy stands in stark contrast to Harry’s early and consistent public defence of Meghan during their conflicts with the media early in their relationship [2][3]. This choice has raised questions among royal observers and commentators about the couple’s public positioning and strategy amid ongoing challenges.
Instead of commenting on the charity scandal, Meghan quickly highlighted their renewal of a multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, an announcement that industry analysts interpret as a relative step down compared to their previous contract [2][3].
Prince Harry, at present, cuts a lonely figure in his dispute with Sentebale, a situation that was further highlighted by reports of his family discouraging him from speaking out in support of Meghan Markle in the past [1]. Despite this, Meghan has not spoken out in support of Prince Harry’s departure from Sentebale or in defence of him during the ongoing dispute.
Meghan Markle, known for her powerful voice that she famously re-found after leaving the Royal Family, has remained publicly silent regarding this matter. Her silence, while striking given Harry’s previous public advocacy for her, may be influenced by the ongoing sensitivities around the conflict, public relations considerations, and the couple’s focus on other professional matters.
References:
[1] The Mirror. (2025, March 1). Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Duchess 'silent' as Harry 'cuts a lonely figure' in Sentebale dispute. Retrieved from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-harry-meghan-markle-duchess-26602649
[2] Harper's Bazaar. (2025, April 5). Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix Deal Reportedly Less Lucrative Than Previous $78m Contract. Retrieved from https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a37108536/meghan-markle-prince-harry-netflix-deal-less-lucrative/
[3] Vanity Fair. (2025, March 10). Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: A Timeline of Their Dispute with Sentebale. Retrieved from https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2025/03/meghan-markle-prince-harry-sentebale-dispute-timeline
[4] The Guardian. (2025, March 15). Charity Commission report on Sentebale criticises 'unclear leadership' but finds no evidence of bullying. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/15/charity-commission-report-on-sentebale-criticises-unclear-leadership-but-finds-no-evidence-of-bullying
Entertainment news outlets speculate about Meghan Markle's silence following Prince Harry's departure from Sentebale, questioning if her focus has shifted towards her project with celebrities, Netflix. Amid the charity scandal, Meghan has not publicly stated her support for Prince Harry, a stark contrast to the couple's earlier advocacy for each other in the media.
