Prince Harry has accused Sentebale’s boss of telling ‘blatant lies’ as Britain’s charities watchdog launched an investigation into ‘concerns’ about how the charity he set up in his mother’s memory has been run.
The Charity Commission today opened a regulatory compliance case into Sentebale, a week after it emerged Harry had quit as patron and demanded the resignation of Dr Sophie Chandauka.
The Duke of Sussex has spoken for the first time amid a boardroom battle that has engulfed him in scandal, saying the crisis at Sentebale had left him ‘heartbroken’.
He has left the charity he set up in 2006 in a dispute with its chairwoman, Dr Chandauka, declaring that the ‘relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board had broken down beyond repair’. Â
She then hit back called the Sussexes’ brand ‘toxic’ and accused Harry of ‘harassment and bullying at scale’ – a claim that is denied. She added: ‘Really, what Prince Harry wanted to do was to eject me from the organisation and this went on for months. I have documentation’. She also accused Harry of playing ‘the victim card’.
The Charity Commission has said it had informed the charity yesterday that it had ‘opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity’, which has been welcomed by Dr Chandauka and Prince Harry.
He said in a statement: ‘What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.
‘On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry. We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign.
‘We remain hopeful this will allow for the charity to be put in the right hands immediately, for the sake of the communities we serve.’Â
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children’s centre in Lesotho in October 2024
The royal founded the organisation in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.
Last week it emerged that several trustees had left the charity in a dispute with its chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation.
Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and announced they had resigned as patrons until further notice.
They said their resignations came ‘with heavy hearts’, adding that it was ‘devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation’.
Ms Chandauka issued a statement in which she alleged there had been ‘poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir’.
The commission said it had informed the charity yesterday that it had ‘opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity’.
This allows the watchdog to ‘gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties’ and responsibilities under charity law.
It is not the same as a statutory inquiry.
The commission, which said the decision to open a case came after assessing initial concerns raised, said it is in ‘direct contact with parties who have raised concerns’.
Prince Harry recently appeared in a video promoting the sustainable tourism initiative TravalystÂ
Regulatory compliance cases can lead to a range of outcomes including an official warning being given to a charity or a statutory inquiry being opened, which can give the commission additional powers of investigation.
In a statement given to the Mail on behalf of Dr Chandauka today, she said: ‘I welcome the Charity Commission’s decision to proceed with a regulatory compliance case to consider the various governance, administration and management matters I first reported in February 2025.
‘For completeness, I should mention that we initiated an internal governance review last year, the findings of which we will share with the Charity Commission.
‘We hope that, together, these actions will give the general public, our colleagues, partners, supporters, donors and the communities we serve comfort that Sentebale and its new Board of Trustees are acting appropriately to demonstrate and ensure good governance and a healthy culture for Sentebale to thrive.
‘In the meantime, our exceptional Executive team and operational staff remain focused on the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring continuity in our work and mission delivery.
‘We appreciate the patience, understanding and tremendous support we have received from our existing and prospective partners and supporters, and look forward to continuing to work together with you as we recalibrate for an ambitious future.’
Sentebale executive director Carmel Gaillard said her team is committed to co-operating with the Charity Commission’s case.
She said: “As executive director, I speak on behalf of the Sentebale executive team and operational staff that we welcome the clarity this process will bring.
“Transparency and accountability are central to how we operate, and the executive team and I are fully committed to supporting the Charity Commission’s regulatory compliance case in any way needed.
“We will also continue to work closely with the chair and the new board of trustees to ensure the smooth running of the organisation, keeping our focus firmly on delivering for the young people and communities we serve.”