Sentebale Vows to Emerge ‘Stronger’ as Charity Moves Forward After Watchdog Ruling and Prince Harry’s Departure
LONDON – The youth charity Sentebale is looking to a renewed future, with its leadership vowing to emerge “stronger” and “more focused” after a period of public turbulence that concluded with the departure of its co-founder, Prince Harry, and a regulatory ruling from the Charity Commission.
The watchdog’s investigation into a high-profile dispute at the charity, which supports children affected by HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana, is now complete. While the commission rebuked “all parties” for allowing the public feud to harm the charity’s reputation, it validated the position of the current chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, and the board to remain in place, providing a clear path forward for the organisation.
David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, noted that while passion can be a charity’s greatest strength, “in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness.” He added that the public nature of the dispute risked “overshadowing its many achievements.”
Following the conclusion of the probe, Dr. Chandauka issued a forward-looking statement, emphasising the organisation’s resilience.
“We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact,” she said. “Despite the recent turbulence, we will always be inspired by the vision of our founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen ‘Mamohato.”
She issued a call to action for the charity’s supporters: “Please walk with us as Sentebale recovers, renews, and rises to meet the hopes and expectations of the next generation.”
Prince Harry, who founded the charity with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, has formally departed from the organisation. However, his commitment to the cause remains. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed he would continue his work for the region’s vulnerable children through different avenues.
“As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry and the former board of trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea to… a flowering force for good,” the spokesperson stated. “The Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana.”
The dispute arose last year and escalated in March when Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down in support of other trustees who had resigned following disagreements with Dr. Chandauka, reportedly over a decision to move fundraising operations to Africa.
While the Charity Commission acknowledged a “strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some individuals involved in the dispute, its investigation found no evidence of systemic bullying at the charity. With the ruling now settled, Sentebale is set to move into a new chapter, focused entirely on its core mission.
