“In shock,” says Duke of Sussex as founders step down after breakdown between trustees and board chair
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has officially stepped down as patron of Sentebale, the HIV and AIDS charity he co-founded in 2006, following an unresolved internal dispute between the charity’s board of trustees and its chair, Sophie Chandauka.
In a joint statement released Wednesday with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, co-founder of the organization, Prince Harry expressed deep disappointment over the events that led to their departure.
“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation,” the statement read.
Both Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, along with the full board of trustees, have exited the organization amid the fallout. Chandauka, the chair at the centre of the dispute, is reported to have initiated legal action to retain her position.
Founded in memory of Princess Diana, Sentebale—meaning “forget-me-not” in Sesotho—was established to support vulnerable children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. Prince Harry, inspired by his mother’s humanitarian legacy, has maintained long-standing ties with Africa and has remained active in numerous causes across the continent, most recently visiting Nigeria in 2024.
Though no longer patrons, the founders reaffirmed their belief in the mission and future of the charity.
“Although we may no longer be Patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care,” the statement added.
The trustees indicated that their request for the chair to step down was made in the charity’s best interests. The Charity Commission and Sentebale have been contacted for comment, but have not yet issued statements.
Prince Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and now resides in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, has described the situation as one of deep personal sadness.