Prince Harry Resigns from the 'Sentebale' Charity Organization Founded in 2006 to Honor His Late Mother, Princess Diana

Sentebale, meaning "forget-me-not" in Sesotho, has focused on aiding vulnerable children and youth in Lesotho and Botswana.

Prince Harry has stepped down from his role at Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, to honor their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamahato. They shared their reasons in an extensive statement that reflected their profound sadness at the decision.

Harry and Seeiso penned, "With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. 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."

The trustees, Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr. Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West, have left their positions following a division between them and chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

The dispute escalated when the trustees called for Dr. Chandauka to step down, citing concerns about the charity's governance. Instead, she filed a lawsuit against the organization, creating further turmoil.

Hence, the former trustees collectively announced their resignation. In a statement, they wrote, "We are deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the Founding Patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry, who founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers."

They highlighted their commitment to the organization’s mission and described their departure as a heartbreaking but necessary decision. The former trustees expressed regret that tensions within the organization escalated into a lawsuit.

"We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions. This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity," they explained.

Despite their difficult choice, they hoped their departure would bring stability to the organization and ensure that its vital work could continue for the benefit of staff and the communities it serves.

Prince Harry and Seeiso expressed gratitude for the trustees' dedication over the years and regretted that the situation forced such drastic measures.

"What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale's beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about," they revealed.

Although Harry and Seeiso have stepped down as patrons of Sentebale, they noted that their connection to the organization remains unchanged.

The pair also have a continued commitment to its cause and those it serves. As its founders, they recognize the charity's potential and the impact it can have when guided by strong leadership.

However, Sentebale stated that it has not received official resignations from its royal patrons, Harry and Seeiso. The organization also announced a board restructuring on March 25, 2025, aimed at bringing in experts to support its ongoing transformation efforts.

The organization, named after the Sesotho word for "forget-me-not," has long been dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana.

Harry first visited Lesotho in 2004, where he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by many children. Inspired by what he saw, he and Seeiso co-founded Sentebale to support vulnerable youth.

Harry saw Sentebale as a way to continue Princess Diana's legacy of advocating to help those with AIDS. As per its website, the organization was "Deeply inspired by their mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamahato—courageous women who used their platforms to raise awareness about difficult subjects and brought hope and help to vulnerable communities.

Hence, the organization began with a focus on addressing the stigma surrounding HIV, which had left many children orphaned. Over time, Sentebale expanded its programs, establishing the Mamahato Centre and creating networks of clubs, camps, and initiatives to empower young people in Lesotho and Botswana.

"Today, through our networks of clubs, camps and programs across both Lesotho and Botswana, we help children and young adults to learn that they can go on to live happy and productive lives, despite being HIV positive," said Harry.

The organization's official website reads, "As our work expands, young people remain at the centre – we listen to their needs and expectations, ensuring they are safe, confident, and able to lead and advocate for themselves and their peers."

Dr. Chandauka, who chairs the organization amidst the conflict, has also spoken out, describing the continuing situation as a case of a woman who dared to speak out against governance failures, weak leadership, and workplace misconduct.

She emphasized her courage in exposing allegations of abuse of power, bullying, harassment, and discrimination, noting that there were efforts to cover up these issues.

"Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?" she questioned in a statement.

Dr. Chandauka stated that her actions were driven by principles of fairness and equal treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means. However, she noted that those opposed to these values had pushed back against her efforts.

"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," said Dr. Chandauka in a statement.

On her refusal to resign, Dr. Chandauka emphasized that her role at Sentebale was not a personal endeavor she could easily walk away from when challenged.

She highlighted her background as an African woman with access to a world-class education and career, stating that she refused to be intimidated. She positioned her stance as a stand for other women who lack the resources and opportunities to speak out.

"I will continue to faithfully perform my role as Chair of the Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with others who are interested in issues of health, wealth and climate resilience for young people in Africa," Dr. Chandauka emphasized.

Dr. Chandauka was appointed Chair of Sentebale in July 2023, having previously served on the charity’s board from 2009 to 2015. Her leadership background spans multiple industries, including finance, technology, and biotechnology.

She is the Chair and Co-founder of Nandi Life Sciences, a U.S.-based biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for rare cancers and autoimmune diseases.

Throughout her career, she has held senior corporate roles at major global firms, including Meta, Morgan Stanley, and Virgin Money, where she played a key role in capital-raising efforts.

Beyond her corporate career, Chandauka is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has led initiatives such as the Black British Business Awards and has been recognized with an MBE for her contributions to diversity in business.

Originally from Southern Africa, she has studied and worked across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. With her extensive qualifications, she was seen as the perfect pick to chair Sentebale and has now held on to the position despite the ongoing turmoil. She also currently serves on several advisory boards.

Sentebale's Executive Director, Carmel Gaillard, has also weighed in on the challenges the organization is facing at the moment. She acknowledged that significant changes within an organization can sometimes lead to conflict.

Gaillard expressed gratitude for the contributions of the outgoing trustees and recognized the difficult decision made by the charity’s co-founding patrons to step down.

"Their belief in our mission and early leadership helped shape the foundation of our work, and for that, we remain thankful. They will always be the Founders of Sentebale," she emphasized.

Gaillard reaffirmed the organization's commitment to strong governance and highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards as they transition to a new board.

She also stressed that Sentebale’s core strength lies in its teams on the ground in Lesotho and Botswana. These teams continue to work directly with young people, providing essential programs that focus on health, economic resilience, and climate-related challenges.

"While Trustees are key for governance and regulation, and Patrons—especially Founders—are an honour to have, it’s the people in the field who are advancing the work, no matter what," Gaillard added.

Looking ahead, Gaillard underscored Sentebale’s unwavering dedication to supporting children and youth across Southern Africa, ensuring they have better health, stronger livelihoods, and climate resilience to build a better future. "The work continues because they deserve nothing less," she reiterated.

With both sides standing their ground, the future of Sentebale remains uncertain as the charity grapples with the fallout of internal conflicts and financial challenges.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission, which oversees charities in England and Wales to ensure public trust, stated that the organization is aware of governance concerns at Sentebale. The commission is currently reviewing the matter to determine the necessary regulatory actions.