Britain's Prince Harry and others have been criticised by the UK Charity Commission for allowing a “damaging” boardroom row to play out “in the public eye” and damaging the reputation of the charity Harry co-founded.
The Charity Regulator launched an investigation into Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso resigned as patrons, backing a group of trustees who resigned following a row with chair Dr Sophie Chandauka.
The watchdog criticised all parties involved in the fallout for allowing it to become publicly debated and said all trustees had contributed to a “missed opportunity” to address the issues, leading to serious disagreements that undermined public trust in charities as a whole.
Harry's spokesman condemned the findings, saying the report was “… alarmingly flawed in many ways, most notably that the consequences of the current chair's actions will fall not on her but on the children who rely on Sentebale for support.”
Dr Chandauka noted: “The unexpected negative media campaign initiated by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused untold damage and demonstrates unacceptable behaviour that is being displayed in private life.
“We become not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more determined, better managed, bolder in our ambitions and without losing our dignity.”
The regulator said the fallout arose after Sentebale's trustees attempted to implement a new fundraising strategy in 2023, leading to a dispute between Dr Chandauka, some trustees and Harry.
A war of words followed the resignation, with Harry and Seeiso issuing a joint statement in March calling their decision “unthinkable” and adding that trustees “acted in the best interests of the charity by asking the chair to step down” and “she in turn took legal action against the charity to remain in this voluntary role, further highlighting the fractured relationship.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
