This is a catastrophic row risking the reputation of Prince Harry’s beloved charity.
Sentebale is so much more than a cause he supports. It is a deeply personal tribute to the memory of his late mother.
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When Harry visited Lesotho he came alive, it was like his second home. His passion and connection with the communities was clear. And for years he’s helped raise huge funds.
But here we are with the charity seemingly imploding, caught up in a bitter and confusing boardroom blame game.
Read more: Prince Harry accused of ‘harassment and bullying at scale’ by Sentebale chair
Some of the allegations are incredibly serious and relations appear irreparable.
What’s worse is that all this is being played out so publicly. Prince Harry’s hatred of the press is well-documented, but these are headlines that will hurt.
Since he stepped back from his royal role and responsibilities, Harry left a lot behind.
Sentebale is one of the pieces of his past he’s kept.
His dramatic departure from the charity will have been a difficult decision.
But you have to ask, how has it got to this?
Prince Harry, stepping away from the charity he loved so much.
And a chair, who is a much-respected, experienced international lawyer, calling him out.
While those at the top are in turmoil, the charity’s name is being torn apart.
It might not be on the brink of collapse, but this is deeply damaging for the charity.
Damaging too for Prince Harry, facing uncomfortable questions about his conduct and behaviour.
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Sky News contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex about the contents of Sophie Chandauka’s interview with Trevor Phillips, and they declined to offer any formal response.
But a source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity has described as “completely baseless” Dr Chandauka’s claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was unleashed on her and that the people on the board of Sentebale were scared to speak up when the duke was in the room.
In response to Dr Chandauka’s claim that the Duke of Sussex was ‘forcing the failure’ of the charity ‘as a last resort’, the source pointed to the public statement of Prince Harry and his co-founder of the Sentebale charity, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, which read:
“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.
“These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.”
