NEED TO KNOW

  • Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso resigned from Sentebale after the board lost confidence in Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who refused to step down and responded with legal threats.
  • Trustees accused Chandauka of abandoning the charity’s grassroots mission, overspending on consultants, and damaging critical donor relationships, including the Polo Cup fundraiser.
  • The leadership breakdown triggered financial instability and an ongoing Charity Commission investigation into governance and legal compliance.
  • Following the resignations, Sentebale’s messaging shifted, downplaying the founders’ role and raising concerns that Chandauka is quietly reshaping the charity’s identity.

On March 26, 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso announced their intention to step away from Sentebale, the charity they co-founded in 2006 to support vulnerable youth in Southern Africa. Their decision came in solidarity with the entire board of trustees, who had stepped down after losing confidence in the board chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. The resignations reflected deep concerns about governance and transparency.

The charity had been a personal mission for both founders. Prince Harry often described Sentebale as a way to continue Princess Diana’s legacy of supporting people living with HIV. For nearly 20 years, Sentebale held a strong reputation, bolstered by events like the annual Sentebale Polo Cup. But behind the scenes, tensions had been growing. According to People, the situation became untenable when the trustees asked Chandauka to resign and she responded with legal action.

In a joint statement, Harry and Seeiso said they supported the trustees, adding that it was “devastating” that the relationship with the chair “broke down beyond repair.” They also noted that the charity’s mission remained important and that they would continue advocating for the children it serves, even though they could no longer serve as Patrons.

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Sources familiar with the matter told People, that the internal conflict between Sentebale’s board of trustees and Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka pushed the charity into legal and financial uncertainty. When Chandauka became chair in July 2023, the organization had stable finances and a clear fundraising structure. But within months, tensions flared over decisions that, according to insiders, lacked board approval and placed strain on the charity’s resources.

A key moment came when the relationship between Chandauka and a major funder of the Sentebale Polo Cup broke down, leading to the cancellation of the 2024 fundraising match. Chandauka also hired external consultants at a cost of over $600,000 to develop new fundraising strategies. Trustees allege that she did this without seeking board consent and that the fundraising efforts failed to deliver.

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By December 2024, the board began discussions about removing Chandauka. They formally asked her to resign in February 2025, but she refused. When the board proceeded with a vote to remove her, she filed a legal challenge.

Chandauka claimed a UK court had granted an injunction to stop her removal, but CNN reported it had not seen evidence of such an order. A source familiar with the matter told the outlet no injunction had been issued by the High Court at all.

In her media comments, Chandauka appeared to target Prince Harry, claiming that “some people play the victim card and use the press to harm others.” Many interpreted her remarks as a reference to Harry, though he has not publicly responded..

Quote by Dr Sophie Chandauka stating some people play the victim card and use the press to harm others, with commentary noting how the media has politicized her words to reinforce negative tropes about Prince Harry.

The trustees and founders believed staying on would only deepen the crisis. They stepped down in unison, leaving the charity’s future uncertain amid ongoing investigations by the UK Charity Commission.

Leadership Style and Strategy Spark Internal Concerns

Sophie Chandauka arrived at Sentebale with a strong background. She held leadership roles at major firms like Morgan Stanley and Meta and built a reputation for managing high-profile transactions. But her approach to running the charity quickly raised questions among the trustees. Rather than maintaining the grassroots focus that defined Sentebale’s nearly 20-year legacy, she tried to reorient the charity’s strategy toward U.S.-based investors and corporate fundraising models.

Many staff and supporters viewed her leadership as a break from Sentebale’s mission to serve vulnerable youth in Lesotho and Botswana. Some insiders said she distanced the charity from its community roots, focusing instead on corporate optics and elite networking.

Chandauka has insisted that she acted to protect the charity from deeper governance issues, citing misconduct, harassment, and weak management. However, her decision to sue the charity instead of stepping down after a unanimous board request further eroded trust.

A Strategic Statement or Subtle Swipe?

Following the announcement of Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso stepping down, Sentebale issued a social media statement that, at first glance, appeared to honor the efforts of staff and local partners on the ground. The post praised those who “bring our mission to life every day,” while noting that trustees and patrons—“especially founders”—are an honor to have, but not essential to the ongoing work.

This message was more than a simple tribute to field teams. It felt like a subtle attempt to reframe the charity’s public image and minimize the roles of the very people who built its reputation. It read like a soft power move that aligned more with Dr. Sophie Chandauka’s stance than with the collaborative tone Sentebale was known for under its founders.

While there’s no denying that grassroots teams are vital, in the nonprofit world, high-level fundraising is equally crucial. And let’s be honest: Dr. Chandauka might bring corporate experience, but she can’t host a polo match and raise millions in a single afternoon—Prince Harry can. Undermining that contribution through veiled social posts feels strategic, not accidental.

For a charity that once led with empathy and global partnerships, this tone shift was hard to ignore.

The Legacy Of Sentebale And The Road Ahead

Despite the upheaval, Sentebale’s mission remains critical. The charity has helped thousands of young people in Lesotho and Botswana deal with the impacts of HIV, poverty, and inequality. Harry and Seeiso made it clear in their statement that while they’ve resigned as patrons, they remain its founders. They promised to stay engaged and share their concerns with the Charity Commission, which is now investigating the matter.

Chandauka maintains that she took legal action to protect herself from what she calls a cover-up of deeper issues, claiming her leadership was meant to strengthen the charity. However, the trustees and founders felt the damage was already done—and despite her assertion that the High Court issued an emergency injunction to stop her removal, no such injunction has surfaced to date.

This moment serves as a reminder that leadership in the nonprofit world must be built on trust, shared values, and transparency. Sentebale has a long and respected legacy. The charity’s recovery from this breakdown depends on how its leaders move forward and whether they can rebuild confidence without undoing the progress already made.

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