Sophie Chandauka, an award-winning lawyer and entrepreneur, is embroiled in a controversy surrounding her role as chairman of Sentebale, the Duke of Sussex’s charity.
The 47-year-old Zimbabwe-born legal expert, who has enjoyed a successful 20-year career with high-profile firms such as Meta, Morgan Stanley, and the Virgin Group, is now at the centre of a racism and bullying row involving her recent appointment as Sentebale’s chairman.
Chandauka, who has made significant strides in her career—from starting as a trainee solicitor to advising on multi-million-pound deals—was appointed chairman of Sentebale in 2023, having served on its board for six years earlier.
The charity, co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, aims to support children affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.
At the time of her appointment, she spoke of her journey from being a “young girl from Zimbabwe” to achieving a “world-class education and career,” underscoring her belief in Sentebale’s ability to “transform lives and inspire youngsters.”
However, her tenure at Sentebale has now become embroiled in controversy. Last week, the entire board of Sentebale resigned following a lawsuit filed by Chandauka after she was asked to step down from her position.
The Duke of Sussex also stepped away from the charity amidst what the joint statement described as an irreparable breakdown in relationships between Chandauka and the trustees.
Chandauka, a University of Oxford graduate, has responded by alleging that she was the victim of poor governance, abuse of power, bullying, and harassment, including claims of “misogynoir” and a cover-up of these issues.
“Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press,” she said, “is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle.”
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Chandauka’s legal career spans some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. She qualified as a corporate lawyer with Baker & McKenzie in 2005 and later held significant roles at Virgin Money and Morgan Stanley. In 2021, she was honoured with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to diversity in business.
A highly regarded figure in both the corporate and charitable sectors, she is also the executive founder and chairman of the Black British Business Awards, which advocates for the advancement of Black British professionals into leadership positions.
The ongoing dispute has put a spotlight on governance and leadership issues within charity organisations, with Chandauka’s legal expertise coming to the forefront in her battle for justice.
While the Duke of Sussex and Sentebale remain silent on the specifics of the row, it seems that this high-profile charity is now facing a major crisis—one that has cast a shadow over the charity’s future direction.
