The resignation comes as tensions escalate between board members and leadership at the charity he co-founded to support vulnerable communities in southern Africa.
**Prince Harry Resigns from Sentebale Charity Amid Board Disputes**
**Prince Harry Resigns from Sentebale Charity Amid Board Disputes**
Prince Harry steps down as patron to support trustees facing leadership conflicts.
Prince Harry has announced his resignation as patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded to aid communities affected by HIV in southern Africa. The decision, disclosed in a statement from his office on Wednesday, stems from significant internal strife within the charity's board. Alongside fellow patron Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Harry expressed solidarity with recent departures among the board's trustees.
The foundation faced turbulence as five of its nine trustees resigned earlier this week, citing a breakdown in trust with the charity's chair, Sophie Chandauka. In their resignation statements, the trustees indicated that they had lost confidence in her leadership and had requested her resignation, which led to Chandauka allegedly filing a lawsuit against them to maintain her position. The trustees added that they could not allow the charity to incur the burdensome costs associated with the legal battles, prompting their difficult decision to step away.
Harry and Seeiso, who both have deep ties to the organization founded in 2006 in memory of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, emphasized their ongoing commitment to the charity's beneficiaries. “It is devastating to witness the relationship between the charity’s trustees and its leadership deteriorate,” they stated. They plan to raise their concerns with the UK's Charity Commission regarding the ongoing situation.
Sentebale, which operates primarily in Lesotho and has expanded to Botswana, plays a crucial role in addressing pressing social issues faced by young people, including substance abuse and gender-based violence. As internal conflicts escalate, both Harry and Seeiso remain deeply concerned about the impact on the charity’s important work.
The foundation faced turbulence as five of its nine trustees resigned earlier this week, citing a breakdown in trust with the charity's chair, Sophie Chandauka. In their resignation statements, the trustees indicated that they had lost confidence in her leadership and had requested her resignation, which led to Chandauka allegedly filing a lawsuit against them to maintain her position. The trustees added that they could not allow the charity to incur the burdensome costs associated with the legal battles, prompting their difficult decision to step away.
Harry and Seeiso, who both have deep ties to the organization founded in 2006 in memory of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, emphasized their ongoing commitment to the charity's beneficiaries. “It is devastating to witness the relationship between the charity’s trustees and its leadership deteriorate,” they stated. They plan to raise their concerns with the UK's Charity Commission regarding the ongoing situation.
Sentebale, which operates primarily in Lesotho and has expanded to Botswana, plays a crucial role in addressing pressing social issues faced by young people, including substance abuse and gender-based violence. As internal conflicts escalate, both Harry and Seeiso remain deeply concerned about the impact on the charity’s important work.
