The head of Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, has made explosive claims about the Duke of Sussex, accusing him of bullying and harassment following his sudden resignation from the organization earlier this week.
A Relationship in Ruins
Dr Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, alleges that Harry’s actions—particularly his decision to announce his departure without informing her or the executive team first—have shattered the relationship between the 540 people working for the charity and their co-founder.
“At some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors,” Chandauka told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.
“That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
Harry and Seeiso resigned as patrons of Sentebale after a dispute with the charity’s trustees, stating their relationship had “broken down beyond repair”. However, Chandauka claims the real issue was Harry’s alleged attempts to remove her from the organization.
The “Sussex Machine” & Meghan’s Involvement
Dr Chandauka accused Harry of unleashing the “Sussex machine”—a reference to his and Meghan Markle’s PR operation—to undermine her leadership.
She also revealed tensions surrounding Meghan’s unexpected appearance at a Sentebale fundraising event in Miami. According to Chandauka:
- Meghan had originally said she would not attend but showed up with a famous friend, creating an unexpected media storm.
- The event’s choreography “went badly” due to Meghan’s last-minute arrival, leading to negative press coverage.
- Afterward, Harry allegedly pressured Chandauka to release a statement in support of Meghan, but she refused, saying,
“We cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.”
Netflix Drama & A Toxic Brand
Chandauka further claims that a fundraising event collapsed after Harry decided—at the last minute—to film part of it for a Netflix documentary, violating prior agreements with the venue.
She also described Harry’s “toxic brand” as the “number one risk” to the charity, telling the Financial Times that his reputation had negatively impacted Sentebale.
Race, Power & a Shift in Leadership
Beyond the personal tensions, Chandauka suggested there were deeper cultural and structural conflicts at play.
She said her efforts to shift decision-making to Sentebale’s leaders in southern Africa were resisted by UK-based trustees who felt they were losing power and control.
“The organization’s form was no longer appropriate in 2023 in a post-Black Lives Matter world,” she argued.
“Funders were asking for locally-led initiatives, but the UK board felt, ‘Oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over.’”
A Royal Mess with No Easy Resolution
This high-profile fallout leaves Sentebale’s future uncertain, as Harry distances himself from the charity he co-founded in memory of Princess Diana and Seeiso’s mother.
With allegations of bullying, power struggles, and PR manipulation, the rift between Sentebale’s leadership and Prince Harry appears to be far from over.
