Prince Harry Steps Down from Sentebale Charity Amid Governance Dispute
The Duke of Sussex has announced his departure as a patron of Sentebale, a British charity based in Lesotho that he co-founded. This resignation follows a disagreement between the charity’s trustees and the chair of its board, escalating into a significant governance dispute.
Royal Patron Resigns Alongside Trustees
Prince Harry stated he has resigned from his role alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, his co-founder and fellow patron, and Sentebale’s board of trustees. This collective action comes after relations between the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, and the trustees reportedly “broke down irretrievably.” Dr Chandauka subsequently initiated legal action against the charity after being requested to vacate her position.
Chairwoman Raises Concerns with Charity Commission
Dr Chandauka has formally reported Sentebale to the UK Charity Commission. She claims to have acted as a “whistleblower,” citing concerns regarding “abuse of power” and “harassment.” Dr Chandauka asserted that her actions were aimed at upholding the “integrity of the organisation.”
Charity Commission Investigating Sentebale
The Charity Commission has confirmed it is “aware of governance concerns” surrounding Sentebale and is currently examining the reported issues.
Sentebale’s Mission and Foundation
Established in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, Sentebale was created to specifically address the impact of HIV and Aids on young individuals in Lesotho and Botswana, southern African nations.
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Princes Express “Heavy Hearts” Over Resignations
In a joint public statement, the princes conveyed their sentiments, stating: “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have also had to resign.”
They elaborated on the situation: “It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board fractured beyond repair, resulting in an unsustainable situation.”
The statement continued, “These trustees acted with the charity’s best interests at heart when asking the chair to step aside, while prioritising the welfare of staff. Regrettably, she then sued the charity in an attempt to remain in this voluntary role, which further highlighted the irreparable breakdown in the relationship.”
They indicated they would be “sharing all of our apprehensions with the Charity Commission regarding the circumstances that led to this situation.”
Trustees’ “Devastating” Decision to Step Down
Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West described their decision to resign as “nothing short of devastating” for all involved.
They explained they had lost trust and confidence in the chairwoman. Her legal challenge left them with no alternative but to resign in the “best interest of the charity,” as it could not shoulder the associated “legal and financial burden.”
“This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt compelled into in order to safeguard the charity,” they affirmed.
Chairwoman Defends Actions, Cites “Poor Governance”
Dr Chandauka stated that her work at Sentebale had been “guided by the principles of fairness and just treatment for everyone, irrespective of social standing or financial means.”
She further commented: “There are individuals in this world who conduct themselves as if they are exempt from accountability and mistreat others. They then portray themselves as victims and exploit the very press they disdain to harm those who possess the courage to challenge their behaviour.”
According to Dr Chandauka, this situation represented “the story of a woman who dared to expose issues of inadequate governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the subsequent cover-up.”
Sentebale Confirms Board Restructuring
Sentebale clarified that it had “not received resignations from either Royal Patron,” but confirmed a “restructuring” of its board took place on Tuesday. This restructuring aims to introduce additional experts “with the skills and networks to accelerate Sentebale’s transformation agenda.”
The charity mentioned that plans were announced last April to evolve from a development organisation focused on the impact of HIV and Aids on children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana to “one that addresses broader issues of youth health, wealth, and climate resilience in Southern Africa.”
“The recalibration of the Board is, therefore, integral to Sentebale’s ambitious transformation agenda,” the charity reiterated.
Charity Commission’s Assessment Ongoing
The Charity Commission restated it is “aware of concerns” regarding Sentebale’s governance, adding: “We are evaluating these issues to determine the appropriate regulatory response.”