The UK’s charity watchdog cleared Britain’s Prince Harry of all accusations of bullying in an internal dispute with Sentebale, a charity he founded. However, the watchdog deplored that the bitter internal dispute was unfortunately played out in the public sphere, severely damaging the charity’s reputation.
The explosive boardroom dispute unfolded in late March and April, when the charity’s chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, publicly accused Prince Harry of “bullying.”
Just days earlier, Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho announced their resignations from the charity they established in 2006. Their resignations followed the departure of trustees who quit after Chandauka refused their demand that she step down from her post.
Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, launched the charity in 2006 to honor his mother, Princess Diana, and assist young people with HIV and AIDS.
The UK-based Charity Commission concluded its months-long inquiry, finding no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogynoir at the charity.
The commission, however, criticized all parties for allowing the damaging internal dispute to play out publicly, which it said impacted the charity’s reputation.
It also noted a “lack of clarity in delegations,” which consequently led to “mismanagement in the administration of the charity.” A plan has now been issued to the charity to address the identified governance weaknesses and make necessary improvements for future operation.
Prince Harry said in an April statement that the events had “been heartbreaking to witness,” particularly as “blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal.”
Chandauka, appointed in 2023, had accused Harry of trying to force her out and criticized his decision to bring a Netflix crew to a fundraiser. The accusations were a fresh blow for the prince, who kept up only a handful of private patronages after his dramatic split from the royal family in 2020.
The commission’s chief executive, David Holdsworth, urged all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity’s services as improvements are made. Harry chose the name Sentebale as a tribute to his mother, a Sesotho word meaning “forget me not” which is also used to say goodbye.