The UK Charity Commission has cleared Prince Harry of allegations of bullying in a high-profile dispute involving Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded in 2006. The watchdog, however, criticised all parties for allowing the internal conflict to escalate publicly, stating that it had “severely impacted the charity’s reputation.”
The dispute came to light in March and April 2025, when Sentebale’s chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, accused Prince Harry—also known as the Duke of Sussex—of bullying and resisting governance oversight. Her accusations followed the resignation of several trustees after she refused their calls to step down.
Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho had earlier announced their joint resignation from the charity, which was established to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and later expanded into Botswana. The charity was named Sentebale, meaning “Forget Me Not” in the Sesotho language, in honour of Princess Diana.
In its findings published Wednesday, the Charity Commission stated:
“We found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir, at the charity.”
While exonerating Prince Harry of the specific allegations, the Commission faulted the charity’s governance, pointing to “a lack of clarity in delegations” that led to administrative mismanagement. It has now issued a governance improvement plan.
Chandauka, who was appointed chair in 2023 and remains in the role, welcomed the report.
“The conclusions confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025,” she said, though she did not address the Commission’s dismissal of her bullying claims.
In an earlier statement in April, Prince Harry described the events as “heartbreaking,” adding, “such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal.”
The row also involved criticism of Harry’s media activities, including the presence of a Netflix camera crew at a polo fundraiser and an unplanned appearance by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
The Commission’s chief executive, David Holdsworth, urged the charity to refocus on its mission:
“Moving forward, I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity’s services.”
Despite the turbulence, Chandauka said the charity remained inspired by the founders’ vision:
“We will always be inspired by the vision of our founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso.”
