A stunning development unfolds as Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho step away from their roles at Sentebale, a charitable organization they established to honor their mothers' legacies.
According to the New York Post, the Duke of Sussex announced his resignation as patron of Sentebale, citing irreparable tensions between the board of trustees and chairwoman Sophie Chandauka.
The departure comes as a significant blow to the organization, which has been supporting disadvantaged children since 2006. Prince Harry, 40, expressed his devastation over the decision, which was made alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho amid growing internal conflicts within the charity's leadership structure.
The breakdown in relationships between key stakeholders has created an untenable situation within the organization. In a joint statement, both princes addressed their difficult decision to step down from their roles as patrons.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso stated:
With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.
The controversy appears to center around disagreements regarding the charity's fundraising focus in Africa. Multiple board members, including Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West, have unanimously resigned from their positions.
Chairwoman Sophie Chandauka has taken a firm stance against the departures, refusing to step down from her position. She issued a strongly worded response to the situation, alleging serious misconduct within the organization.
Chandauka defended her position with the following statement:
For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account. There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.
The chairwoman claims she exposed issues including poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, and misogyny. She has reported the trustees to the Charity Commission, which has acknowledged awareness of the governance concerns.
The recent exodus of leadership follows several significant departures over the past year. Richard Miller stepped down as CEO after five years of service, while Andrew Tucker, a senior official of 10 years, and Baroness Lynda Chalker, an 18-year director, also left their positions.
The organization had already experienced a major shift when advertising executive Johnny Hornby departed after serving 11 years as a trustee, including five years as chairman. These successive departures have created a leadership vacuum within the organization. The Charity Commission has confirmed its involvement in the matter, stating they are currently assessing the situation to determine appropriate regulatory measures. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso's departure from Sentebale marks a significant turning point for the charitable organization they founded nearly two decades ago. The Duke of Sussex established the charity in 2006, choosing the name "Sentebale," which translates to "Forget me not," in honor of his late mother Princess Diana's favorite flowers.
The crisis has led to the resignation of both founding patrons and the entire board of trustees, creating unprecedented challenges for the organization's future operations. The Charity Commission's involvement and ongoing assessment of the situation will likely determine the next steps for this once-promising charitable venture supporting disadvantaged children in Africa.
