Prince Harry’s Sentebale is being probed by Charity Commission over ‘concerns raised’ after duke resigned amid leadership row with chairwoman

A watchdog has escalated its investigations into ‘concerns raised’ about Prince Harry‘s charity Sentebale after he resigned following a boardroom battle. 

The Charity Commission said it had opened a regulatory compliance case into Sentebale, a week after it emerged Harry had quit as patron.

The royal founded the organisation in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.

Last week it emerged that several trustees had left the charity in a dispute with its chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation.

Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and announced they had resigned as patrons until further notice.

They said their resignations came ‘with heavy hearts’, adding that it was ‘devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation’.

Ms Chandauka issued a statement in which she alleged there had been ‘poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir’.

She also appeared to criticise Harry for going to the press and for what she described as playing ‘the victim card’.

Prince Harry recently appeared in a video promoting the sustainable tourism initiative Travalyst 

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children’s centre in Lesotho in October 2024

The commission said it had informed the charity yesterday that it had ‘opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity’.

This allows the watchdog to ‘gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties’ and responsibilities under charity law.

It is not the same as a statutory inquiry.

The commission, which said the decision to open a case came after assessing initial concerns raised, said it is in ‘direct contact with parties who have raised concerns’.

Regulatory compliance cases can lead to a range of outcomes including an official warning being given to a charity or a statutory inquiry being opened, which can give the commission additional powers of investigation.

In a statement given to the Mail on behalf of Dr Chandauka today, she said: ‘I welcome the Charity Commission’s decision to proceed with a regulatory compliance case to consider the various governance, administration and management matters I first reported in February 2025.

‘For completeness, I should mention that we initiated an internal governance review last year, the findings of which we will share with the Charity Commission.

‘We hope that, together, these actions will give the general public, our colleagues, partners, supporters, donors and the communities we serve comfort that Sentebale and its new Board of Trustees are acting appropriately to demonstrate and ensure good governance and a healthy culture for Sentebale to thrive.

‘In the meantime, our exceptional Executive team and operational staff remain focused on the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring continuity in our work and mission delivery.

‘We appreciate the patience, understanding and tremendous support we have received from our existing and prospective partners and supporters, and look forward to continuing to work together with you as we recalibrate for an ambitious future.’