Watchdog Clears Prince Harry of Bullying Claims, But Sophie Chandauka Still Remains Chair at Sentebale

The UK Charity Commission has issued a formal rebuke to Sentebale following a bitter internal dispute that caused the resignation of Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso. The watchdog criticised all parties involved for allowing the conflict to erupt into the public domain, damaging the charity’s reputation. While the media seized on the report to frame Prince Harry’s public exit as irresponsible, a closer look reveals a far more layered story. The full Commission report, now public, outlines governance failures, trustee concerns, and conflicting claims that raise urgent questions about accountability, leadership, and the selective enforcement of charity oversight.

Trustees Resigned Before Harry Spoke Out

Much of the media, like the Daily Telegraph, has focused attention on Prince Harry’s decision to resign publicly. However, the internal turmoil at Sentebale started long before his statement. Multiple trustees, including Prince Seeiso, resigned after the trustees reportedly called for the charity’s chair, Sophie Chandauka, to step down. These resignations followed concerns over her leadership style and the direction of the charity’s fundraising strategy.

Despite their departure, Chandauka remained in her position, causing Harry and Seeiso to follow suit in solidarity with their trustees. Framing Harry’s resignation as a singular disruption ignores the collective action taken by the previous board. Now, both Princes claim the charity has gone through what they described as a “hostile takeover” by Chandauka.

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Charity Commission Criticises All Sides But Exonerates None

The Charity Commission report criticises all former trustees for failing to resolve internal disputes through proper channels. It found the delegation of authority to the chair to be confusing and poorly defined. There was no evidence of overreach by Harry or Chandauka, but the report flagged the absence of internal complaints policies and a lack of governance clarity. Claims of bullying and harassment, including misogyny and misogynoir, were not substantiated by the Commission. However, the regulator did acknowledge a “strong perception of ill treatment” experienced by several individuals involved in the dispute.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry welcomed the Commission’s conclusion that he committed no wrongdoing and that claims of bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir were unfounded. However, the statement criticized the report for failing to address the lasting impact of the charity’s internal crisis.

“Despite all that,” the spokesperson said, “the consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her — but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.”

Related | Regulator or Royal Gatekeeper? Charity Commission Ties Raise Questions Over Impartiality

Chandauka Faces No Consequences Despite Damaging Allegations

Despite the Commission’s findings of governance failures and explicit criticism of her televised remarks, Sophie Chandauka remains chair of Sentebale. Regulators concluded that her public interviews and media criticism were not in the charity’s best interests. Yet, in a post-report statement, Chandauka not only welcomed the Commission’s conclusions but invoked the legacy of Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, both of whom resigned in protest over her leadership.

Her continued position has drawn questioning, particularly in light of her authorization of over £427,000 in consultancy fees as part of a failed fundraising overhaul. The strategy delivered no measurable results and coincided with the resignation of the entire trustee board and the charity’s founding patrons.

Among those now shaping Sentebale’s future is Iain Rawlinson, a trustee with long-standing ties to Prince William. His appointment in March, during this period of trouble, has fueled speculation that the charity, founded by Harry, may now be moving into the orbit of the “working royals” he once stepped away from. Some observers suggest this may be part of a wider strategic shift of Sentebale under more palace-aligned influence.

In his book Spare, Prince Harry shared that Prince William once said, “Africa is my thing.” Many interpreted that as William staking territory over African charity work. Now that Harry has stepped down from Sentebale, William is connected to two African charities, Tusk Trust and United for Wildlife, while Harry remains formally linked to just one, African Parks.

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Related | Sentebale War of Words Escalates as Prince Harry’s Stance Gains Support

Comparisons to Royal Charity Investigations Fuel Claims of Bias

Observers have pointed to the Charity Commission’s differing responses to royal charity controversies. In 2022, the regulator declined to open a full investigation into King’s Charles’s foundation after it accepted £2.5 million in cash donations from a former Qatari prime minister. Despite the money reportedly being delivered in bags and suitcases, the Commission concluded there were “no concerns” about the charity’s governance. By contrast, the Sentebale report resulted in a Regulatory Action Plan and extensive media scrutiny, even though it said there was no financial wrongdoing found. Critics argue that the discrepancy reveals a concerning double standard, particularly given the reputational fallout Harry continues to face from this.

Financial Questions Remain As Deadline Looms

After months of scrutiny, the Charity Commission’s report still sidesteps the main issue: Sophie Chandauka’s refusal to step down as chair, even after the entire board of trustees reportedly asked her to resign. During her leadership, Sentebale spent over £427,000 on consultants to boost fundraising, but those efforts produced no clear results. Longstanding events like the charity’s annual polo match were abandoned, and Sentebale was left in a weaker financial position.

Chandauka defended her role by claiming retaliation for whistleblowing about alleged bullying and misogyny. However, the Commission found no evidence to support those claims. With staff reportedly laid off, founding patrons gone, and the board replaced, the question remains: how does a chair so widely criticised remain in charge?

Now, with the charity under intense scrutiny, attention is turning to its next financial filings. Sentebale must submit its annual accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024 by 30 September 2025. The last filed report covered the period up to 31 August 2023. Observers will be watching closely.

Editor’s Note:

All views expressed in this article are those of the author. This piece was written in good faith and in the public interest, based on publicly available information and official documents. Any criticisms or interpretations are presented as opinion and are not intended to defame or mislead. Those seeking to challenge the content on legal grounds should be aware that defamation claims must demonstrate that the statements were false, malicious, and not a fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.