Prince Harry's statement in full as he 'welcomes Sentebale charity investigation'
Harry founded the charity in 2006Prince Harry has issued a new statement today as a probe launched into the ongoing row surrounding his Sentebale charity.
Last week, Prince Harry found himself at the centre of accusations of “harassment and bullying at scale” after he resigned from the charity. His decision to leave came as he backed many other trustees who also stepped down. This came after disagreements with chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka.
But the situation began to turn toxic when Dr Chandauka hit back with strong claims. She alleged there had been “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir”.
Charity Commission launches probe into Sentebale dispute
Prince Harry founded Sentebale way back in 2006 to honour his mother, Princess Diana, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. They wanted to help young people and children in southern Africa, with a particular focus on those living with HIV and Aids.
Things reportedly turned bitter in the charity when the board of trustees requested Dr Chanduaka’s resignation, which she refused.
And today (April 3), the Charity Commission opened a probe into the charity. It aims to get to the bottom of dispute.
Prince Harry statement on Sentebale charity probe
Prince Harry has given a statement on the probe. He said he hopes it will “unveil the truth”.
His statement reads: “From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers.
“What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal.
“No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself. On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry. We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign.
“We remain hopeful this will allow for the charity to be put in the right hands immediately, for the sake of the communities we serve.”
Dr Sophie Chandauka statement on Sentebale probe
Meanwhile, Dr Sophie has said: “I welcome the Charity Commission’s decision to proceed with a regulatory compliance case to consider the various governance, administration and management matters I first reported in February 2025.
“For completeness, I should mention that we initiated an internal governance review last year, the findings of which we will share with the Charity Commission.
“We hope that, together, these actions will give the general public, our colleagues, partners, supporters, donors and the communities we serve comfort that Sentebale and its new Board of Trustees are acting appropriately to demonstrate and ensure good governance and a healthy culture for Sentebale to thrive.”
She added: “In the meantime, our exceptional Executive team and operational staff remain focused on the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring continuity in our work and mission delivery.
“We appreciate the patience, understanding and tremendous support we have received from our existing and prospective partners and supporters, and look forward to continuing to work together with you as we recalibrate for an ambitious future.”
In response to the UK Charity Commission’s opening of a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about Sentebale, please see statements from our Chair of the Board Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE and our Executive Director Carmel Gaillard. pic.twitter.com/t3YKwq3MZd
— @Sentebale (@Sentebale) April 3, 2025
Sentebale investigation outcome
The commission said that it told the charity yesterday (April 2) that it “opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity”.
This decision allows for evidence to be gathered. The probe’s focus “will be to determine whether the charity’s current and former trustees, including its chair, have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities under charity law”. It is not the same as a statutory inquiry.
The commission has insisted they are “in direct contact with parties who have raised concerns”. These sort of investigations can have numerous outcomes. An official warning may be given to a charity. Or a statutory inquiry may be opened which can give additional powers of investigation.
However, it could go on for a while. This ensures everything has been assessed before reaching a conclusion.
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