Prince Harry Cleared of Bullying Allegations by UK Charity Commission
Britain’s Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying allegations by the UK Charity Commission following a public fallout within Sentebale, the non-profit he co-founded in 2006 to support children living with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The charity became embroiled in a leadership crisis earlier this year after its chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, accused the Duke of Sussex of “bullying.”
The dispute escalated in March and April when Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles, shortly after all other trustees stepped down due to Chandauka’s refusal to vacate her position.
On Wednesday, the Charity Commission concluded its investigation, stating it “found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity.”
However, the Commission criticised all parties involved for allowing the conflict to play out in the public domain, warning that the “damaging internal dispute” had severely affected Sentebale’s reputation. It also identified governance shortcomings, pointing to “a lack of clarity in delegations,” which it said led to “mismanagement in the administration of the charity.”
A formal plan has now been issued to address the identified governance weaknesses.
Prince Harry, in an earlier statement issued in April, said the situation had “been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal.”
Chandauka, who took up the voluntary role of chair in 2023, told Sky News that Harry subjected her to “bullying (and) harassment.” She cited incidents such as his invitation of a Netflix film crew to a charity polo event and an unscheduled appearance by his wife, Meghan, at the fundraiser, which she said were done without proper consultation.
The commission’s Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, called on all parties to refocus on the charity’s mission. “Moving forward, I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity’s services,” he said, adding that improvements must be made to prevent a recurrence.
Prince Harry named Sentebale—meaning “forget me not” in the Sesotho language—in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997. The charity was one of the few personal patronages he retained after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to North America with his family.
