Prince Harry accused of ‘harassment and bullying’ by chair after he resigned from charity he co-founded

Prince Harry has been accused of “harassment and bullying at scale” by the chair of Sentebale, an organization he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help children and young people in Southern Africa who have been diagnosed with HIV, AIDS and mental health issues. 

The dispute between the Duke of Sussex, Prince Seeiso and Sentebale chair Dr. Sophia Tendai Chandauka became public after the two royals confirmed they were resigning from the charity in a joint statement March 25.

In an interview with Sky News that aired Sunday, March 30, Chandauka said in response that the Duke of Sussex “authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director.”

“Can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations and their family?” she asked. “That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.” 

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso departed the organization, which they founded in honor of their mothers, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen Mother Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, respectively, “in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same,” they said in a statement.

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation,” they said.

The two royals said the trustees had asked the chair to step down. The chair responded to the request by suing the charity, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso alleged, “further underscoring the broken relationship.” The royals did not name Chandauka in their statement.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso then thanked the trustees before adding that they were “heartbroken” to leave their positions. They also said the situation was “unthinkable” and that they were “in shock.” 

The two concluded that they would voice their concerns about Sentebale to the Charity Commission, a government department in England and Wales that regulates charities. A spokesperson for the Charity Commission for England and Wales confirmed to NBC News that it is “aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale.”

Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr. Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West also released a statement announcing their departures from Sentebale. The former board members called the decision “devastating” while praising the co-founders and their work with the charity. 

Following Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso’s statements, Chandauka commented on the situation, as well. 

“My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means,” she said in a March 25 statement. “There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.”

She claimed that she had reported the trustees to the Charity Commission. 

Chandauka said that “because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir — and the coverup that ensued.”

The chair added that she would focus on fundraising for Sentebale and continue to perform her duties. 

While speaking to Sky News, Chandauka alleged Prince Harry started the “unleashing of the Sussex (PR) machine,” calling it an “attack.”

The Duke of Sussex did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

Chandauka also said in the interview that her experience with Prince Harry directly was “fantastic, actually” and the two had a “great relationship.” As for the charity’s board, she shared that there were members who “completely disrupted my meetings because they thought that they could get away with mistreating a woman.” 

A former trustee, Lerotholi, told Sky News he was unaware of Chandauka’s allegations. 

“I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such,” he said. “The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each other’s opinions and inputs, and speaking with respect to each other.”

He added, “So this all came as a shock to me.”