Prince Harry demands truth: UK charity watchdog investigates Sentebale bullying claims amid bitter feud

Britain’s Charity Commission has began an investigation into Sentebale, the African charity co-founded by Prince Harry, launching a formal regulatory compliance case to look into allegations of governance failures, bullying, and financial mismanagement.

The investigation will examine whether trustees, including chair Dr Sophie Chandauka, fulfilled their legal duties, with the regulator pledging a “robust and thorough” review of explosive claims from both sides.

The probe comes eight days after Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their positions alongside the entire board of trustees, citing an “irreparable breakdown” with Dr Chandauka.

Harry released a statement following the announcement by Britain’s charity watchdog.

“We (the former patrons and trustees) 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.”

The Charity Commission confirmed it is examining ”serious concerns” about governance and trustee conduct. A spokesperson clarified the probe could take ”weeks or months” given the complexity of allegations. The regulator’s focus will be on determining whether the charity’s current and former trustees, including its chair, have fulfilled their duties under charity law.

Dr Chandauka also welcomed the news, saying she hoped it would provide “comfort that Sentebale and its new Board of Trustees are acting appropriately to demonstrate and ensure good governance and a healthy culture”.

Sentebale was founded in 2006 to honor Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato of Lesotho and has supported young people with HIV/AIDS in southern Africa for nearly two decades. Tensions had reportedly been simmering for months before exploding into public view.

Sources close to the former trustees allege Dr Chandauka, who became chair in 2023, oversaw questionable financial decisions, including £427,497 ($530,000) in consultancy fees for media and fundraising advisors.

In February, trustees formally requested her resignation, accusing her of overreach and poor governance.

In late March, Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and five trustees resigned en masse, calling the situation “devastating” for beneficiaries.

Dr Chandauka struck back in a Sky News interview, accusing Harry of ”harassment and bullying at scale” and claiming trustees engaged in ”misogyny, misogynoir, and a coordinated PR campaign” to oust her. She singled out an alleged incident where Harry sent her an “unpleasant” message after she declined to publicly support Meghan Markle after a charity polo event.

”They unleashed the Sussex PR machine against me,” she said.

The dispute, with its accusations of bullying, racism and misogyny, is particularly painful for Harry who has accused some royal aides and tabloid newspapers in the past of similar behaviour against his American wife Meghan.

It also involves a charity close to his heart because it was founded in tribute to his mother’s legacy. Sentebale means “forget-me-not” in the local language of Lesotho.

“What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness...,” Harry said in his statement.

Harry, who lives in California with Meghan and their two children, stopped working as a member of the British royal family in 2020. He has been involved in charitable causes in Africa for many years and visited Nigeria last year.

- With AAP