In a dramatic turn of events, Prince Harry has officially stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, in 2006. This decision, announced on March 25, stems from ongoing internal disputes that have come to light between the chair of Sentebale, Sophie Chandauka, and five members of the charity's board of trustees.
Harry, alongside his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, decided to leave to stand in solidarity with those board members—Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West—who recently resigned amid claims of lost trust in Chandauka's leadership. Their resignation, as outlined in a joint statement, was not a choice made lightly. The trustees highlighted the burdensome implications of a pending lawsuit initiated by Chandauka to prevent them from ousting her from office, indicating an atmosphere of contention and turmoil within the organization.
The former trustees stated that their primary concern was the welfare of Sentebale itself, saying, “We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions.” Both parties involved in the dispute have reported having submitted their claims and supporting documents to Britain's Charity Commission, in hopes of resolving their overlapping allegations of misconduct.
This unfolding situation raises critical questions about governance and accountability within non-profit organizations, particularly concerning leadership dynamics and the influence of founders in such roles. With the charity’s future now uncertain, many look on, hoping the discord can be resolved smoothly for the sake of those Sentebale strives to support.
