Prince Harry quit as patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006, following a bitter boardroom battle – and now it seems he is plotting his next move amid the fallout
Prince Harry is considering starting a brand new humanitarian charity as the war of words over him quitting Sentebale rumbles on.
A messy and very public boardroom battle saw the Duke of Sussex quit as patron of Sentebale in March in support of trustees who resigned in opposition to board chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, who previously levelled accusations of bullying and harassment against the royal.
The charity works in Botswana and Lesotho, supporting the health and well-being of young people, especially those with HIV and Aids. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded Sentebale alongside the duke in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2006, also stepped down as patron. It comes after the news Harry is ‘wounded’ over the bitter rift and horrified as ‘wrists slapped’.
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The Charity Commission published a report into the episode last week, criticising all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements, but the war of words has continued.
A source said that the row had been “emotionally absolutely devastating” for Harry, and described Dr Chandauka’s comments as “nothing short of a hostile takeover”.
And now a spokesperson for Harry said: “The duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago. In what form that support takes — no decisions have been made.
“All options remain on the table, whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region.”
The charity regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, said it found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity, but acknowledged “the strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some involved.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Harry has now issued a formal complaint about Dr Chandauka’s conduct, saying they have “directly impacted” his other charity work.
Meanwhile, the former trustees who resigned at the same time as Harry said in a statement they were “gravely concerned for the future of the charity” as they felt the commission had “chosen to ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence raised with them regarding the leadership and oversight of Sentebale’s chair”.
In response to the findings, Sentebale said in a statement: “The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the commission’s responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir etc.
“As a result, the commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings about individuals, including Prince Harry. The issues not investigated by the commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the commission.”
It comes as former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror that Harry is “clearly fuming” by the fallout.
She explained: “I think Harry is now even more disillusioned by the ‘establishment’ – and that includes most official channels. He is reported to believe the Charity Commission is not fit for purpose, and so any future ventures are unlikely to be under its jurisdiction.
“Sentebale was a passion for Harry and one that was closely associated with his mother, who campaigned so hard to make the world understand more about AIDS and HIV.
“When you saw him with the children, he seemed so invested in helping them, so compassionate and so full of fun as he played games with them and made them feel their world was a better place.
“He has said himself that he is devastated by the way things have turned out. It was interesting that in his resignation from the charity earlier this year, he and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, said their decision was ‘until further notice’.
“I think Harry believed the charity commission would come down firmly on his side and oust the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, from her position, allowing him to return as patron. Now, however, he sees the report as enabling what he calls ‘a hostile takeover’.
“Critically, the report cleared the Prince of the damaging allegations of bullying, misogyny, and misogynoir. But it was highly critical of the way Harry, and indeed Dr Chandauka, waged an angry war of words in public. Neither side has come out of this well, and both have had their wrists well and truly slapped by the commission.”
Source: Mirror
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