Charity Dispute Surrounding Prince Harry’s Sentebale
Authors: Sean Coughlan, Daniela Relph
Financial issues and disagreements over fundraising have intensified the conflict enveloping the charity established by Prince Harry, according to insiders associated with previous trustees, as reported by BBC News.
An intense boardroom dispute has resulted in the resignations of Prince Harry, his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and other trustees from their positions in the charity. Sources indicate that personality conflicts and leadership tensions have compounded Sentebale’s difficulties. Despite receiving an additional £1.2 million from Prince Harry’s bestselling memoir, “Spare,” concerns regarding the charity’s finances persist.
Sentebale has asserted that they have successfully engaged consultants to secure new donors in the U.S., acknowledging that the one-time funds from “Spare” were useful but did not ensure a stable long-term funding model.
The Charity Commission is set to investigate the claims made by the former trustees, who resigned recently after the chair, Sophie Chandauka, declined to step down. A statement from the departing trustees expressed regret over the irreparable breakdown of the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the board chair, leading to an untenable situation.
The former trustees allege that operations were mismanaged, with accusations that £500,000 of Sentebale’s funds were spent on consultants in a U.S. fundraising strategy that did not yield results. Insiders suggest that had this strategy been successful, the ongoing crisis within the charity might have been averted.
Chandauka’s use of the title “Dr,” stemming from an honorary degree, has been contentious. A spokesperson for Sentebale stated that the title’s usage is a personal choice and clarified that there are no legal restrictions against honorary degree recipients using such titles. Chandauka has refuted claims of mismanagement and defended Sentebale’s strategy in securing funding, asserting that new relationships with potential donors have been established.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed their heartfelt resignation from a charity they founded in 2006 to support youth in Southern Africa affected by HIV and AIDS. They acknowledged a significant trust deficit related to the board chair. As Ms. Chandauka and her teammates maintain their stance, some suggest that the charity can evolve beyond its founders to address modern needs in Southern Africa, while others feel the loss of the founders has severely impacted its direction.
