No one has emerged unscathed from the controversy surrounding Sentebale—not its chairwoman, who has accused the charity of bullying and misogyny, nor the trustees, who have remained anonymous while briefing against her. However, the person whose reputation has taken the biggest hit is Prince Harry himself.
Sentebale was once Harry’s passion project, a way to honor his late mother by helping vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. But now, questions are being raised not just about the charity’s future but also about Harry’s own standing.
Over the weekend, a very different picture of Sentebale emerged. Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the charity’s outspoken chair, described how the organization began to decline after Harry and Meghan left the UK. Corporate sponsors and donors pulled out, and according to Chandauka, this was no coincidence.
After reviewing the charity’s finances from the past seven years, she found a “significant correlation” between the drop in financial support and “Prince Harry’s departure from the UK itself.” Attempts to discuss the issue, she said, were shut down because it was an “uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room.”
She also criticized the long-standing trustees, saying they had been in place too long, likening the situation to “turkeys not voting for Christmas.” However, the most damning claim she made was that Sentebale’s biggest challenge was its association with Harry. In her words, “The number one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patron’s brand.”
The controversy surrounding a 2023 charity polo match in Florida further illustrates the tensions. The event was intended to raise much-needed funds, but Harry complicated matters by requesting last-minute permission to film for a Netflix documentary. This changed the nature of the event, making it a commercial endeavor and forcing a venue change, which the charity could barely afford.
Adding to the disruption, Meghan, who had initially declined to attend, later decided to come—bringing her celebrity friend Serena Williams along. This led to an awkward moment during the trophy presentation when Meghan asked Dr. Chandauka to step aside, forcing her to duck under the trophy held by Harry and Meghan.
The situation escalated further when Harry later asked Chandauka to issue a public statement defending Meghan, fearing backlash. She refused, arguing that it would only invite more scrutiny and that the charity should not be seen as an extension of the Sussex brand. This, she believes, set off a chain of events that led to her removal and Harry’s subsequent resignation.
