In brief
In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry has stepped down as patron of the charity Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006, signaling solidarity with the discontented board of trustees amid internal strife.
Prince Harry has officially announced his resignation as the patron of Sentebale, a charity he established to aid communities affected by the HIV epidemic in Lesotho and neighboring Botswana. Alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who is also a patron, Harry made this decision in response to significant tensions within the charity’s leadership. Both princes expressed their disappointment over the breakdown of relations between the board of trustees and its chair, Sophie Chandauka, leading to an untenable situation.The resignation comes amid a wave of unrest, as five out of nine board members recently vacated their positions. The trustees, in a collective statement, revealed their loss of trust in Chandauka, which prompted them to call for her resignation. In an unexpected move, she sought legal measures to prevent her dismissal, escalating tensions further. Consequently, the disgruntled board members opted to resign to shield Sentebale from potential legal costs associated with the lawsuit.Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso emphasized their enduring commitment to the beneficiaries of Sentebale in their joint statement, stating, "We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries." The charity was named in honor of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and it aims to address key social issues such as substance abuse and gender-based violence alongside its original mission to mitigate the effects of the HIV crisis.As this situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how both the charity and its founders will navigate the future, particularly as they prepare to report their concerns to the Charity Commission regarding the governance and functioning of Sentebale.
