Prince Harry files for divorce after recently QUITTING his charity as damning report into ‘war of words’ boardroom row rejects racism claim

Prince Harry has officially stepped away from Sentebale, the African youth charity he co-founded, following a damning investigation by the UK’s Charity Commission into an explosive internal race row and governance failure.

The Commission’s report, released this week, found no evidence of “widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir.” However, it criticized both sides—Prince Harry and the former trustees on one hand, and the charity’s new chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, on the other—for allowing a deeply damaging internal conflict to spill into the public domain.

A Charity in Crisis

Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to support children affected by HIV and AIDS. The name means “forget me not” in the local Sesotho language, in memory of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.

But the charity’s reputation was thrown into turmoil earlier this year after Dr. Chandauka raised concerns with the Charity Commission about poor governance, weak leadership, and alleged abuse of power within the organization. Shortly afterward, Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and several long-standing trustees resigned en masse in March 2025.

Report Findings

The Charity Commission acknowledged a “strong perception of ill-treatment” among all parties involved and concluded that a “series of failures” in governance led to “mismanagement in the administration of the charity.”

Among its key findings:
• There was no formal evidence of bullying or racism.
• Trustees, including Prince Harry, failed to manage internal disputes appropriately.
• There was confusion around governance roles, particularly concerning the chairperson’s authority.
• The resulting public feud severely damaged the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more broadly.

A Regulatory Action Plan has now been issued to address these governance issues.

Prince Harry’s Response

Though he initially said he hoped the investigation would “unveil the truth” and that the charity could be “put in the right hands,” Prince Harry has now confirmed he will not return.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said:

“With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind — and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began — The Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana.”

Harry’s team also noted it was “unsurprising” that the Commission found no wrongdoing on his part but criticized the report as falling “troublingly short in many regards.”

Dr. Chandauka Speaks Out

In her own statement, Dr. Chandauka defended her decision to report concerns privately to the Charity Commission, stating that it was only after doing so that the resigning trustees launched what she called an “unexpected and adverse media campaign” against her, which caused “incalculable damage” to the charity’s work.

She further alleged that she experienced “misogynoir” (misogyny against Black women) and “bullying at scale,” particularly after suggesting that the charity operate more independently from Harry and seek diversified funding beyond his celebrity polo events.

“Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle… I could be anyone,” she said.

She also described an incident in April 2024, when Harry and Meghan arrived at a charity polo match with a Netflix crew. Following public backlash aimed at Meghan, Dr. Chandauka claimed Harry demanded she issue a public statement in Meghan’s defense. When she declined, she says he responded with an “extraordinary, unpleasant and imperious” message.

The Commission’s Final Word

David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, emphasized that “passion for a cause” can become a weakness if not properly managed. He said:

“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation… This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities’ ability to deliver for their cause.”

The Commission stressed that its role was not to mediate interpersonal conflicts but to assess whether charity law was upheld. It cannot investigate individual claims of bullying.

It concluded that poor internal structures, unclear roles, and communication breakdowns were central to the charity’s problems, and that better processes must now be implemented.

Moving Forward

Sentebale released a statement saying it welcomed the Commission’s findings and is committed to reform.

“With strong foundations now in place, Sentebale can move forward with confidence — free from interference, committed to continuous improvement, and focused on delivering solutions addressing health, wealth, and climate resilience for children and young people in Southern Africa.”

The charity confirmed it has correctly appointed new trustees and thanked the Commission for its responsiveness and thorough investigation.