Prince Harry and Sophie Chandauka, President of Sentebale, 12 August 2023. Photo: Danial Hakim / AP
The head of the Sentebale charity, Dr Sophie Chandauka, accused Prince Harry of “large-scale harassment and intimidation”, saying he had “launched the Sussex machine against her”.
In her statement, she spoke harshly of the prince: “The team is determined to keep Sentebale going, with or without you.” Chandauka also said that a year ago, she felt tension in her relationship with Prince Harry when she was offered to protect Meghan Markle from negative publicity, but she refused. This was reported by the Daily Mail.
Prince Harry announced his resignation from Sentebale last week in “solidarity” with disgruntled board members who resigned following the conflict with Chandauka. However, she insists that it was the Sussex brand that hindered the charity’s charitable work, affecting donor and staff engagement.
“The main risk to the organisation was the toxicity of its patron’s brand,” she told the Financial Times. She also accused Harry and Sentebale co-founder Prince Seiso of Lesotho of trying to “bring the organisation to collapse and then become its saviours”.
Sophie Chandauka said that Prince Harry personally authorised the publication of the news of his resignation without first informing Sentebale’s management. “This was an attack on me and the 540 people in the organisation who are now forced to defend themselves,” she said on Sky News.
Prince Harry has not yet commented on the situation, but his representatives categorically deny the allegations of pressure or harassment. Instead, Sentebale said it would continue to operate without Harry’s involvement.
The conflict between Sentebale’s management and Chandauka has escalated to the legal level. Former board members submitted a formal request for her resignation, but she refused and even went to court to block the decision.
“I am an African woman who has had the privilege of a world-class education and career. I will not allow myself to be intimidated. I have to stand up for my beliefs,” said Chanduka.
Meanwhile, the UK Charity Commission has announced that it is reviewing the case and deciding what regulatory action should be taken.
