When Dr Sophie Chandauka was appointed Chairman of the Board at Sentebale in July 2023, her arrival was seen as a breath of fresh air. Her credentials, which included a notable track record in business and social change, were praised by Prince Harry, who called her appointment a “tremendous benefit to Sentebale’s next chapter.”
But little did anyone know that this next chapter would spiral into a personal and professional crisis, culminating in mass resignations, allegations of racism and misogyny, and a deeply fractured relationship between Prince Harry and the charity he co-founded.
In an emotional statement on Tuesday evening, Prince Harry announced his resignation as Patron of Sentebale, following an “unthinkable” breakdown in his relationship with Dr Chandauka.
“I am truly heartbroken,” he said, acknowledging that the breakdown between the charity’s trustees and its Chairman had become “untenable.”
The decision, he explained, was made in solidarity with the charity’s board of trustees, who had also resigned in the face of mounting legal challenges and the fear that legal costs could push the charity into collapse.
Dr Chandauka, in turn, fired back with a lengthy statement, levelling serious allegations of racism, sexism, and bullying against the trustees. She also reported the matter to the UK Charity Commission, claiming that the trustees had mistreated her and then played the “victim card” by using the press to discredit her.
“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law,” Dr Chandauka said. “They mistreat people and then use the very press they disdain to harm those who challenge their conduct.”
The situation became even more complex when it emerged that Dr Chandauka had filed a High Court claim against Sentebale earlier this month. This legal action, sources suggest, threatened to bankrupt the charity due to the immense financial burden of the case.
In response, the trustees made the difficult decision to resign en masse to prevent the organisation from collapsing under the weight of the legal fees.
While Dr Chandauka maintains that her actions were those of a whistleblower addressing issues of poor governance, abuse of power, and systemic misogyny, the former trustees and Prince Harry have expressed disbelief at the severity of her accusations.
“She has come in with such vitriol, so difficult to deal with, and has been spending a fortune on things that are not good for Sentebale,” one source close to the charity said.
In a joint statement released by the trustees, they expressed sorrow at the situation and emphasised that their decision to resign was not taken lightly.
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“Our priority has always been, and will always be, what’s in the best interest of the charity,” they said. “We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake the legal and financial burden, and we had no choice but to vacate our positions.”
Despite the high-profile resignations, Sentebale doubled down on its stance in a statement issued on Wednesday. The charity insisted that its ground-level teams were central to its mission, not the trustees or patrons. “While trustees are key for governance and regulation, it’s the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what,” the statement read.
Sentebale, which provides support to children affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana, has faced financial difficulties in recent years, with reserves of less than £1 million.
The charity has also been exposed to fluctuations in income due to reliance on events like high-profile polo tournaments. In response to these struggles, the Duke of Sussex had personally injected $1.5 million from the profits of his memoir Spare, but the charity still found itself in a precarious position.
The resignations have left the future of the charity uncertain, but the charity has promised to provide further details on the situation when it is ready.
“A lot of information being shared is untrue and defamatory in nature,” a spokesman said. “The board acts collectively on major decisions, and it would be inappropriate to assume decisions were made by any one person.”
Founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 in honour of Princess Diana, Sentebale has been a deeply personal cause for the Duke. He has long described it as his life’s work, vowing to remain committed to the charity “forever” and dedicating his efforts to supporting children living with HIV in southern Africa.
Dr Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer and businesswoman, brought a wealth of experience to Sentebale’s board. Having previously served on the board for six years, she rejoined in 2023 as chairman, citing her diverse background and understanding of the charity’s mission.
However, sources suggest her leadership style, which some describe as “aggressive,” may have clashed with the established ethos of the charity.
The tension between Dr Chandauka and the board of trustees appears to have been brewing for some time. Last November, a series of resignations, including those of key figures like Baroness Chalker and Andrew Tucker, signalled that trouble was on the horizon.
In December, the charity’s decision to relocate its senior leadership to southern Africa was seen as a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of the charity’s organisational upheaval.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who have been deeply involved in the charity’s work since its inception, have expressed their shock and disappointment at the current crisis.
“We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries,” they said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.”
