Prince Harry Resigns from Sentebale Amid Leadership Dispute

Prince Harry has resigned as a patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded, due to ongoing conflicts between the board of trustees and its chair, Sophie Chandauka. The resignation follows a series of disputes that led five trustees to vacate their positions amid allegations of misconduct from both sides.

Prince Harry has officially stepped down from his role as patron of Sentebale, the charity he established in honor of his late mother, following a protracted dispute that has engulfed the organization. This announcement, made on March 25, 2025, comes in the wake of significant turmoil within the charity's leadership, particularly between its chair, Sophie Chandauka, and five trustees who recently resigned amidst allegations of wrongdoing.

Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. However, recent months have seen a breakdown in relations within the charity's oversight, culminating in the resignation of trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West. In a joint statement, the former trustees expressed their loss of “trust and confidence” in Ms. Chandauka, who was appointed in 2023. They claimed that her response to their calls for her resignation was to initiate legal proceedings aimed at preventing their removal from the board.

Faced with the financial implications of Ms. Chandauka’s lawsuit, the trustees stated that they felt compelled to resign to protect the charity from incurring unnecessary legal debts. “We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden,” they said, insisting their resignations were not made lightly but out of necessity for the charity's well-being.

The internal conflict has escalated to the point where both Ms. Chandauka and the group of former trustees have lodged claims with the UK's Charity Commission. As the situation unfolds, the future direction of Sentebale remains uncertain, and the implications of this leadership crisis could resonate significantly within the charitable sector.