Afua Hagan is a contributor to CTVNews.ca, focusing on the Royal Family. Based in London and Accra, Hagan is a regular commentator on the Royals across a variety of U.K. and international outlets.
Prince Harry started Sentebale 17 years ago to honour his mother Diana’s memory and bring hope to people affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa. The charity’s name translates to “forget-me-not” in Lesotho’s local language and has been the life-blood of the Duke of Sussex’s humanitarian work. The organization now faces an unprecedented crisis after Prince Harry, his co-founder Prince Seeiso, and five trustees stepped down.
The U.K. Charity Commission received serious allegations about abuse of power and harassment, pushing the organization to a critical crossroads. Sentebale’s troubles emerged just as it planned to expand beyond HIV-AIDS support to tackle broader youth challenges in Southern Africa. The charity’s former trustees called their decision to leave “devastating” after relationships broke down between them and chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this,” Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso declared in their joint statement. Both princes assured they would continue to support the charity’s beneficiaries and share their concerns with the Charity Commission despite their departure.
The situation took a dramatic turn after trustees asked Chandauka to resign. Her refusal quickly led to led to legal complications.
“Our priority has always been, and will always be, what’s in the best interest of the charity, and it’s desperately sad the breakdown in relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the chair against the charity, to block us from voting her out,” the princes stated.
Diana’s legacy
Harry’s resignation cuts deeper than a mere administrative change - it severs his connection to a project that was created in his mother’s memory. The charity’s name means “forget-me-not” in Lesotho’s language, chosen to honour both Diana and Queen Mamohato Bereng Seeiso’s legacies. The fact that he felt he had no other choice than to step down from the charity must have been devastating to him, marking the end of a deeply personal chapter in his life. Sentebale isn’t just a charity he co-founded—it’s a cause that helped define him, offering him purpose, identity, and a connection to his late mother’s humanitarian legacy
Since its founding in 2006, Sentebale has been more than just philanthropy for Harry; it has been a place where he found solace, escape, and meaning. His bond with Lesotho and Botswana provided him with a sense of belonging outside of the rigidity of royal life. It was through Sentebale that he honed his leadership skills, built relationships with the communities he served, and cultivated a reputation as more than just a royal - he became a true advocate for HIV-affected youth in Southern Africa. Leaving the charity would also be a profound emotional blow because of what it represents - a connection to the past and to the causes he holds dear. Given the turmoil of his exit from royal life, his departure from Sentebale could feel like another forced severance from a world he helped build. It may also damage his ability to continue his mother’s work on HIV-AIDS - a mission that he has always been passionate about.
Royal Commentator Sarah Hewson travelled to Lesotho with Prince Harry and saw firsthand how close Sentebale was to his heart. “In 2008, as Sky News’ Royal Correspondent, I travelled with Harry to the tiny African kingdom where he and a group of army colleagues were helping to build a new school for children with special needs,” Hewson told me.
“He was immensely proud of the charity’s work and had forged close bonds with the children it was set up to help. This was where we saw Diana’s influence over Harry. He was so touched by what he’d seen and had such an easy connection with the children.”
Harry worked tirelessly over the last several years to uphold his mother’s legacy through Sentebale.
“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,” the princes affirmed. Their words reflect the painful departure while showing their steadfast dedication to the organization’s mission. This resignation marks a crucial moment in Harry’s post-royal life as he leaves one of his most personal projects, yet maintains his belief in the charity’s vital mission.
‘Beyond repair’
So, how did Prince Harry get here? Reports from the BBC suggest the conflict intensified over disagreements about Sentebale’s new direction and the board opposed Chandauka’s position and asked her to resign. Chandauka, a Zimbabwean lawyer who became chair in 2024, strongly refused these requests. “We had lost trust and confidence in the chairwoman,” the five trustees stated together, describing their relationship as ”beyond repair.”
Chandauka took the matter further by reporting the trustees to the Charity Commission with serious claims about the charity’s operations. She said in her statement issued through the Guardian newspaper she had “blown the whistle” about “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir—and the cover-up that ensued.” The Commission responded by saying they were “aware of concerns” about Sentebale’s governance and were “assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.”
The fact that misogyny and misogynoir (discrimination specifically against Black women) is mentioned by the chairwoman is very problematic. Although she doesn’t specifically level this accusation against Prince Harry, it puts him in a very difficult position. Chandauka also went on to make a less veiled attack on Prince Harry saying, “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.”
Sentebale was not only Prince Harry’s baby and a way of honouring his mother – it was his coming-of-age project. It was his way of shaking off the party prince image he had and morphing into a man, doing something meaningful and impactful with his life.
Identity beyond royal duty
Through Sentebale, Harry transitioned from the grief-stricken boy who lost his mother to a global humanitarian, carrying on Diana’s legacy of compassion and advocacy. The charity became a platform for him to define his identity beyond royal duty—allowing him to channel his privilege into meaningful work, cultivate leadership skills, and form a lasting connection with a country that welcomed him as one of their own.
Sentebale also mirrored Harry’s personal evolution. In his 20s, he was still seen as the party prince, but his work in Lesotho revealed a more serious, passionate side of him. As he matured, so did the organization, expanding its mission and influence across Southern Africa. Even in the face of public scrutiny and personal challenges, Sentebale remained a constant - a testament to Harry’s dedication and an integral part of his transformation from a rebellious royal into a purpose-driven advocate for vulnerable children.
Prince Harry’s exit from Sentebale ends a nearly 18-year experience that started as a tribute to Diana’s humanitarian legacy. The conflict between trustees and the board chair now reaches way beyond the charity’s leadership and threatens support for HIV-affected youth in southern Africa.
As governance battles escalate, key funding decisions risk being stalled, partnerships could be jeopardized, and the credibility of the organisation hangs in the balance. Sentebale has long been a beacon of hope for vulnerable children, but if the fallout from this tumultuous situation continues, it may erode donor confidence and disrupt vital programs that countless young people rely on. This crisis is no longer just about leadership - it’s about the future of the children the charity was founded to help.
In spite of that, Sentebale has changed countless lives since 2006 by providing critical services to vulnerable communities in Lesotho and Botswana. Prince Harry’s original vision of continuing his mother’s work through Sentebale remains evidence of Diana’s lasting impact on humanitarian causes.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso may step away as patrons, but their founding mission lives on. The charity’s future depends on those who will guide it through this difficult transition and continue its crucial work supporting southern Africa’s youth.
