​Prince Harry has resigned as patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to honor their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato Bereng Seeiso. Sentebale, meaning “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, focuses on supporting children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.​

The resignation follows a significant breakdown in the relationship between the charity’s board of trustees and its chairperson, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Appointed in July 2023, Dr. Chandauka has been accused of financial mismanagement and making costly decisions without board approval. Tensions escalated when a fundraising event was canceled, leading the trustees to request her resignation. In response, Dr. Chandauka reportedly filed legal action to retain her position, further deepening the discord within the organization.

In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their heartbreak over the situation, stating, “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same.” They emphasized their continued commitment to Sentebale’s mission and beneficiaries, despite stepping down from their formal roles.

Dr. Chandauka has countered these allegations by accusing the board of “abuse of power, bullying … harassment, misogyny, and racism.” She claims to have reported these governance issues to the Charity Commission, which is currently assessing concerns about Sentebale’s governance to determine appropriate regulatory steps.

Despite these internal challenges, Sentebale continues its efforts to support vulnerable young people in Southern Africa, aiming to expand its mission to address youth health, wealth, and climate resilience in the region