Harry breaks his silence following the Sentebale investigation and regrets that the ones most affected are the children the foundation seeks to support.
Prince Harry has issued a powerful and disappointed statement following the publication of the investigation into his charity Sentebale, which he co-founded nearly two decades ago alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Although the UK Charity Commission concluded there was no systemic bullying or misconduct, the Duke of Sussex made it clear that the internal conflict has had devastating consequences for those most in need of protection.
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“As expected, the Commission found no wrongdoing by the co-founder and former patron, Prince Harry. Nor did it find any evidence of bullying, misogyny, or racial misogyny within the organisation, as falsely claimed by the current chair,” said the Prince’s spokesperson in a statement shared with People.
However, he added with a critical tone: “The report is worryingly insufficient in many respects, particularly in failing to highlight that the consequences of the current chair’s actions will not be borne by her, but by the children who rely on Sentebale to survive.”
The report comes months after Harry and Seeiso resigned as patrons of the charity, accusing board chair Sophie Chandauka of fostering an unsustainable working environment and refusing to step down when asked to do so by fellow trustees. The situation led to a major institutional breakdown that also affected the remaining board members.
A source close to the founders commented: “Both Harry and Seeiso are heartbroken. This was their life’s work. They founded Sentebale 19 years ago with their own money, labour, and full commitment to the communities of Lesotho and Botswana.”
While the Commission found no evidence of widespread misconduct, it strongly criticised all parties involved for allowing the conflict to play out publicly. It also pointed to serious failures in internal governance, which damaged the charity’s reputation and undermined public trust.
Chandauka, meanwhile, thanked the Commission for validating her concerns regarding governance and stated that the organisation would emerge “stronger and better led”. However, her final reference to the founders — “we will always be inspired by the vision of Harry and Seeiso and their mothers, Diana and Mamohato” — has been harshly criticised by those close to the Duke, calling it “opportunistic and manipulative”.
Harry, for his part, remains committed to the communities that inspired the founding of Sentebale. According to sources close to him, the Prince is considering creating a new organisation or supporting existing initiatives in Lesotho and Botswana. “It’s still early days, but he’s clear he wants to continue working alongside Seeiso and fulfil the mission that brought them together,” they said.
Although the investigation brings a difficult chapter to a close, the reputational damage to Sentebale may be irreversible. What began as an initiative inspired by two late mothers — Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato — is now overshadowed by a leadership crisis that threatens to tarnish a legacy nearly two decades in the making.
