Sentebale, an African AIDS charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honor of his late mother Princess Diana, has filed a defamation lawsuit against him and his friend Mark Dyer at London's High Court. According to court records reviewed Friday, the charity alleges that Prince Harry and Mr. Dyer conducted a coordinated adverse media campaign since March 2025, causing operational disruption and reputational harm.
Key Takeaways
Sentebale, an African AIDS charity co-founded by Prince Harry, has filed a defamation lawsuit against him in London's High Court. The charity alleges that Prince Harry and his friend Mark Dyer conducted a coordinated adverse media campaign since March 2025, causing operational disruption and reputational harm.
- Sentebale seeks court intervention, protection, and restitution for the damage caused by the alleged campaign
- Prince Harry's spokesperson categorically rejects these claims as offensive and damaging
- The dispute stems from a public falling-out with Sophie Chandauka, the charity's chair of the board
- The Charity Commission found no evidence of bullying or harassment but criticized all parties involved for allowing the dispute to become public
The lawsuit seeks court intervention, protection, and restitution for the damage caused by this alleged campaign. This dispute between Prince Harry and Sentebale stems from a public falling-out with Sophie Chandauka, the charity's chair of the board. Prince Harry resigned as patron in March 2025 after accusing Ms. Chandauka of having an untenable leadership style.
The Charity Commission investigated these allegations but found no evidence of bullying or harassment, criticizing all parties involved for allowing the dispute to become public. Sentebale has faced significant challenges since Prince Harry's departure, including staff layoffs and a funding crisis. According to Daily Mail, the charity had run through almost all its reserves by December 2024, with monthly income falling by a quarter.
A spokesperson for Harry and Dyer said they 'categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.' Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale, which means “forget me not” in the language of Lesotho, about 20 years ago in memory of his mother Princess Diana. Disagreements at the charity surfaced in 2023 over a new fundraising strategy.
Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down as patrons of the charity in March 2025. At the time they said that the relationship between the board and its chair, Sophie Chandauka, was beyond repair and that they were stepping down in solidarity with five trustees who resigned over an internal dispute.
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