LONDON — The UK’s Charity Commission has cleared Prince Harry of allegations of bullying in a high-profile internal dispute at Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 to support children affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The Commission, which oversees charities in England and Wales, concluded its investigation on Wednesday, stating it found “no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir” at the organisation.
The probe followed a dramatic fallout within Sentebale’s leadership earlier this year, when board chairperson Sophie Chandauka publicly accused the Duke of Sussex of bullying and harassment. The dispute came to a head in late March and April, when both Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, resigned from the charity after trustees also quit in protest at Chandauka’s refusal to step down.
Chandauka, appointed chair in 2023, alleged that Harry tried to force her out and cited his decision to bring a Netflix crew to a charity polo fundraiser, along with an unannounced appearance by his wife, Meghan Markle, as examples of overreach and poor governance.
While the Commission dismissed claims of bullying, it criticised all parties involved for allowing the dispute to unfold publicly, stating the very public nature of the fallout had “severely impacted the charity’s reputation.”
It further cited “a lack of clarity in delegations” and signs of “mismanagement in the administration of the charity,” and has issued Sentebale with a formal improvement plan to address ongoing governance issues.
In response to the turmoil, Prince Harry previously described the experience as “heartbreaking,” lamenting what he called “blatant lies” that hurt long-time supporters of the charity’s mission.
Sentebale, which means “forget me not” in Sesotho, was founded in memory of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, who was known for her humanitarian work, including advocacy for HIV/AIDS awareness. The charity has since grown to serve vulnerable children and adolescents across southern Africa.
Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth urged all parties to now refocus on the beneficiaries: “Moving forward, I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity’s services,” he said, adding that governance improvements must be implemented swiftly.
The dispute marks another challenging chapter for Prince Harry, who has retained limited patronage roles since stepping back from frontline royal duties in 2020 and relocating to North America with his wife and children.
Despite the controversy, Sentebale is expected to continue its mission, albeit under closer scrutiny from regulators and the public.