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Conflict Erupts at Sentebale Charity Following Prince Harry’s Resignation

Sophie Chandauka, the chairperson of Sentebale, an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry, has made serious accusations against the Duke of Sussex. She claims that he initiated a campaign of “harassment and bullying” to oust her after she challenged his recent resignation from the organization.

In an interview with Sky News, Chandauka described Harry’s resignation as a damaging event that he executed without notifying her or other leaders. “The only reason I’m here… is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director,” she stated.

She expressed concern about the repercussions of Harry’s actions, both for herself and the 540 individuals associated with Sentebale and their families. Chandauka emphasized that this situation exemplifies “harassment and bullying at scale.”

Chandauka noted that tensions had arisen due to Harry’s commitments outside of the charity, particularly his Netflix deal. For example, a fundraising event in Miami last year was nearly compromised when Harry insisted on bringing a film crew to document the occasion. This change elevated the costs significantly and required them to find a new venue, which was eventually organized by Harry through his contacts. The dynamics were further complicated when Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made a surprise appearance at the event, leading to a reportedly awkward encounter during the trophy presentation.

In a widely shared video, Chandauka attempted to stand next to Harry for a photo after he won a match. However, it appeared that Meghan preferred her to step back, prompting Chandauka to awkwardly duck under the trophy to fit into the frame. “The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me,” she recalled.

Amidst these tensions, Chandauka resisted Harry’s request for her to issue a public statement supporting Meghan, asserting that their charity should not serve as an extension of the Sussexes. Meanwhile, Harry cited conflicts between board members and Chandauka as reasons for his departure, indicating that she had refused to resign and had pursued legal action to retain her position.

Board Dynamics and Internal Allegations

Prince Seeiso, who co-founded the charity alongside Harry, also resigned, following the deteriorating relationship between the board and Chandauka. In a more serious turn of events, Chandauka revealed that she had reported the charity’s trustees to the Charity Commission, the U.K. government body responsible for regulating charities, and took steps in court to prevent her removal from the board.

In her statements, she made accusations of misconduct within the organization, though she refrained from naming any individuals. “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,” she articulated. Chandauka claimed that Harry interfered with her whistleblower complaint and described the scenario as a “cover-up.”

Chandauka further asserted that the charity had faced a decline in donations following Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from their royal duties in January 2020. She warned of potential damage to the organization’s reputation, citing the “toxicity of its lead patron’s brand.” In a comment to the Financial Times, she elaborated on this concern.

Background of Sentebale

Sentebale was established in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in memory of Princess Diana, aimed at supporting young people affected by HIV and AIDS in countries like Lesotho and Botswana. In a joint statement issued on March 26, both princes expressed their shock at the current circumstances, affirming their commitment to the charity’s beneficiaries. They highlighted the painful necessity of resigning from their patron roles due to an irreparable breakdown in the relationship between the charity’s trustees and Chandauka.

Chandauka’s allegations have raised scrutiny regarding the governance of Sentebale, with the Charity Commission acknowledging that it is aware of concerns related to the organization. They are currently evaluating the situation to determine possible regulatory actions.

Following the announcements of Harry and Seeiso’s resignations, Sentebale released a statement reaffirming its commitment to its mission, emphasizing the dedicated work of its teams on the ground who continue to support young people in need.

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globalnews.ca