A source close to the Duke of Sussex has called out the “harassment and bullying” claims by the boss of the Sentebale charity. Prince Harry previously co-founded the charity alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. It was set up to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. He revealed last week that he would be stepping down as patron of the charity – which he set up in honour of the late Princess Diana’s work.
In an explosive interview, Sentebale trustee chair Dr Sophie Chandauka – who joined the charity last year – claimed that donors dropped their support because of Harry’s reputation after he quit his royal duties and moved to the US in 2020.
She also alleged that Harry, 40, “unleashed the Sussex machine” on her in a case of “harassment and bullying at scale” after she tried to bring in changes.
In defence of Harry, a source close to the royal hit back calling accusations that he had personally harassed and bullied her a “deflection” and that the resignation of the trustees and him was as a “direct result of the chair’s mismanagement”.
Speaking to Sky News, Dr Chandauka also revealed “the only reason” she gave yesterday’s interview was because “Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director”.
She continued: “And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family? That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
In her interview, she also blasted the “toxicity” of the Sussex “brand” and went on to accuse Harry of trying to eject her through “bullying” and the “unleashing of the Sussex machine”.
Speaking of Meghan Markle, Dr Chandauka claims that they weren’t aware that she was attending a polo charity event – stating that she previously confirmed that she wouldn’t be there.
Dr Chandauka also revealed that the Duchess of Sussex, 43, caused disruption by attending with her “very famous friend” Serena Williams.
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time, but we didn’t. And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage.”