Prince Harry is reeling from the news that chairwoman Sophie Chandauka has been left in charge of a charity he co-founded in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. It emerged after a charity watchdog concluded its investigation into the charity after a boardroom row dominated the headlines earlier this year.
Harry, who quit the charity in the wake of the row, had hoped the Charity Commission would force Dr Chandauka out as he doesn’t believe she is fit to run it, a source told Newsweek. But the watchdog left the chairwoman in charge of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso in 2006, which helps young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.
As a result, his team is actively exploring whether the pair could regain control of the charity at any point.
A source close to the two princes told Newsweek: “There are a lot of complexities to the governance structure of Sentebale, which means we’re not entirely clear as to, for example, whether or not Sentebale in Lesotho is a separate organization and charity to Sentebale in the UK And it’s something that Prince Seeiso is exploring.”
If they legally divide, the pair could regain control of the charity’s Lesotho division.
“If Prince Seeiso can find a way to extricate Sentebale in Lesotho from Sophie Chandauka he would do it in a heart beat,” the source said. “If that were the case, then I think there is a world in which Prince Harry would love to work with Prince Seeiso again in effectively continuing the good work the pair have done for nearly the last two decades.”
A Sentebale representative said they believed it would not be possible for the princes to regain control of the charity’s Lesotho division. They are understood to be finding alternatives to helping the children supported by Sentebale in Lesotho and Botswana.
Yesterday, the Duke was said to be “absolutely devastated” by the outcome of a report looking into claims of bullying at Sentebale.
A charity watchdog “criticised all parties” at the charity for letting a “damaging” boardroom battle play out in the “public eye” that risked undermining public trust in the sector.
The Charity Commission investigated Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down as its patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned following a dispute with Dr Chandauka.
A war of words followed, with the chairwoman accusing the charity of bullying, harassment and misogyny as well as launching personal attacks on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity but acknowledged “the strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some involved.
However, it did find weaknesses in the charity’s management and criticised both sides for allowing the dispute to “play out publicly” and harm the reputation of the charity, which helps young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids.
A source close to Harry criticised the Charity Commission report, saying that the prince was “devastated that the chair has been allowed to succeed with a hostile takeover”. They added: “”It’s a charity that Seeiso and Harry set up 19 years ago and certainly in Harry’s adult lifetime it’s been his life’s work.”
The Duke’s official spokesperson attacked the findings, saying the report “falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current chair’s actions will not be borne by her – but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support”.
Dr Chandauka said: “The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private.
“We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.”