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Prince Harry has addressed the outcome of the Charity Commission's investigation, which concluded there was no proof of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny within Sentebale, a non-profit he and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho established in 2006 with the goal of helping young people impacted by HIV/AIDS.
In March 2025, Harry and Seeiso stepped down from their roles as patrons of the organization after the charity's chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, raised allegations of mistreatment and governance failures. The public fallout led to multiple trustee resignations and widespread media scrutiny.
On August 5, the Charity Commission for England and Wales released its report, stating there was no evidence of "systemic bullying or harassment" or any "over-reach" by Prince Harry as a patron. The Commission did, however, criticize all parties for allowing the internal conflict "to play out publicly," which "severely impacted the charity's reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally."
A spokesperson for Prince Harry responded: "Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale's Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current Chair."
Despite being cleared, Harry's team expressed concern over the lack of accountability. "The report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair's actions will not be borne by her, but by the children who rely on Sentebale's support," the spokesperson added.
An insider shared that Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso felt deeply disappointed by what they viewed as a hostile shift in the charity's leadership under Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Having founded the organization 19 years ago, they had invested their time, resources, and energy into developing it into a well-established support system for vulnerable communities in Lesotho and Botswana.
Dr. Chandauka accepted the Commission's conclusions, stating, "I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions, which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025." She added, "The experience was intense, and it became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience."
In response to criticism, Chandauka said, "The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviors displayed in private." She concluded, "We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact."
The Commission acknowledged a "strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties" but stated it was not its role to adjudicate individual claims. Instead, it issued a regulatory action plan addressing governance issues, a lack of role clarity, and poor dispute resolution mechanisms.
Prince Harry's spokesperson confirmed he will "now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana," while honoring the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began.
