Prince Harry breaks silence on charity row and slams ‘blatant lies’ as probe launches

Prince Harry has spoken out about the bitter row engulfing Sentebale, a charity he set up almost 20 years ago, after it was revealed it is being investigated by the Charity Commission

Prince Harry has revealed his heartbreak and hit out at “blatant lies” after an investigation has been launched into the charity he founded but dramatically quit amid a bitter row. The Duke of Sussex said he hoped “the truth” will reveal what caused him to resign from Sentebale amid a public war of words with its chairwoman Sophie Chandauka, who has levelled accusations of bullying and harassment in a bid to remove her. Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, has also been embroiled in the dispute.

Harry’s defiant statement came as the Charity Commission said it had opened a regulatory compliance case into Sentebale, which he founded in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. The organisation helps young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.

Last week it emerged that several trustees had also left the charity in a boardroom battle with Dr Chandauka. The mass exodus came after they requested her resignation following concerns about leadership, and she refused to step down. In a defiant statement today, Harry said he was relieved by the Charity Commission probe and hoped it would allow the organisation to be “put in the right hands immediately”.

He said: “From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers. What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.

“On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry. We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign. We remain hopeful this will allow for the charity to be put in the right hands immediately, for the sake of the communities we serve.”

Last week, Harry and Prince Seeiso said their resignations came “with heavy hearts”, adding that it was “devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation”.

Dr Chandauka then fired back in her own statement in which she alleged there had been “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir”. She also appeared to criticise Harry for going to the press and for what she described as playing “the victim card”. A source close to the former trustees and patrons of Sentebale dismissed Dr Chandauka’s comments as a “publicity stunt”.

In a TV interview, the charity chief then claimed the duke had tried to eject” her from the charity through “bullying” and “harassment”. Meghan then became embroiled in the row after a video resurfaced from a Sentebale fundraising polo match in Miami last April.

It shows the Duchess of Sussex appear to choreograph who stood next to Harry, and in an awkward moment, Dr Chandauka moved from beside the duke to Meghan’s side, ducking under a trophy. Dr Chandauka addressed the clip in an interview claiming that Meghan had only decided to turn up at the event at short notice – bringing her “very famous friend” Serena Williams with her. Recalling the day to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News she claimed: “We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn’t.”

She also claimed that after the video appeared online, Harry had asked her to issue a statement in support of Meghan, but said she refused as the charity “cannot be an extension of the Sussexes”. Reports then alleged Harry sent Dr Chandauka an ‘unpleasant’ message asking her to “explain herself”, using “imperious” language and leaving the charity chair “taken aback”. However, sources close to the couple have said that some of the claims are attempts to “deflect from the serious matters at play here.”

Today the Charity Commission said it had informed Sentebale that it had “opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity”. This allows the watchdog to “gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties” and responsibilities under charity law.

The Commission said in a statement: “The regulator for charities in England and Wales has opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity Sentebale. The Charity Commission is now in direct contact with parties who have raised concerns to gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties.

“The regulator’s focus, in line with its statutory remit, will be to determine whether the charity’s current and former trustees, including its chair, have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities under charity law. The Commission is not an adjudicator or mediator and is guided by the principle of ensuring trustees fulfil their primary duty to their charitable purpose and beneficiaries.

“After a period of assessing the initial concerns raised with the Commission, the regulator informed the charity on 2 April 2025 it has opened a regulatory compliance case. The regulator has not made any findings at this time.” Regulatory compliance cases can lead to a range of outcomes including an official warning being given to a charity or a statutory inquiry being opened, which can give the commission additional powers of investigation. It is not the same as a statutory inquiry.

In a new statement today, Dr Chandauka also said she welcomes the case being opened by the Charity Commission and hopes the outcome can ‘comfort’ the public that the charity and its new trustees are “acting appropriately”.

She said: “I welcome the Charity Commission’s decision to proceed with a regulatory compliance case to consider the various governance, administration and management matters I first reported in February 2025. For completeness, I should mention that we initiated an internal governance review last year, the findings of which we will share with the Charity Commission.

“We hope that, together, these actions will give the general public, our colleagues, partners, supporters, donors and the communities we serve comfort that Sentebale and its new board of trustees are acting appropriately to demonstrate and ensure good governance and a healthy culture for Sentebale to thrive. In the meantime, our exceptional executive team and operational staff remain focused on the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring continuity in our work and mission delivery.

“We appreciate the patience, understanding and tremendous support we have received from our existing and prospective partners and supporters, and look forward to continuing to work together with you as we recalibrate for an ambitious future.”