Prince Harry’s Africa charities’ repeated setbacks should serve as a “wake-up” call for him, a royal expert has warned. The Duke of Sussex, earlier this year, stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded to support children affected by AIDS in Botswana and Lesotho, after a public dispute with its chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka, who accused him of bullying and harassment—claims he denied.
Recently, it was revealed that an African wildlife charity he is linked to lost its rights to manage major animal reserves in Chad, following a decision by the country’s government. The non-profit organisation, where Prince Harry serves as a board member and of which he was previously president, announced on Tuesday that the government of Chad has officially terminated its agreements allowing the charity to manage wildlife reserves in the country.
A minister from the country claimed in a statement that the charity had shown “a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government”.
Now, royal expert Jennie Bond claimed that Prince Harry “certainly isn’t having much luck with his charity work in Africa”.
The former BBC royal correspondent believes it could be a wake-up call for the Duke of Sussex, and told the Mirror : “Although he doesn’t seem to be directly implicated in this latest fallout, the Chad Government does cite what it perceives to be his charity’s ‘arrogant and disrespectful behaviour’.
“I think he has probably now learned that setting up charities and managing them successfully is a complex business. And, through no fault of his own, Harry doesn’t have much experience of running a business.”
African Parks oversees 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries. In Chad, this includes two key wildlife reserves: the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which covers the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.
In response to Chad cutting ties, African Parks said it is in talks to “better understand the government’s position” and “explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes”.
The charity added: “African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.”
Ms Bond said: “Perhaps Harry would be better advised in future to use his platform, and it is a powerful and influential platform, to support established charities and causes he believes in — without getting involved in their management.
“He already does that with the WellChild Awards, and his attendance is hugely valuable in every way. Having said that, his Invictus Games are an undoubted success and go from strength to strength. So he must be doing something right!”
