Prince Harry is currently embroiled in legal proceedings initiated by the charity he established two decades ago in memory of his mother, Princess Diana.
Documents released on Friday indicate that Sentebale, a charity dedicated to assisting young individuals in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV, lodged a defamation lawsuit in March within London’s High Court. The legal action targets both Harry and his close associate, Mark Dyer.
According to the court filings, Harry and Dyer, who previously served as a trustee for Sentebale, face allegations of libel and slander, although further details have not been disclosed.
Sentebale confirmed the lawsuit through a statement on its website, declaring, “Sentebale has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales.”
The organization seeks judicial intervention and remedy due to what it describes as a coordinated negative media campaign that began on March 25, 2025, which has purportedly disrupted its operations and damaged its reputation. The statement claims that Harry and Dyer are identified as the primary instigators of this media campaign, which has resulted in considerable online harassment targeting both the charity and its leadership.
In its announcement, Sentebale noted that it is utilizing “external funding” to support the legal proceedings. “The charity should not be compelled to expend its resources on addressing the fallout from this detrimental media campaign, which needs to cease,” the statement emphasized. “The legal action has been undertaken to ensure protection, with all costs covered by external funds, ensuring no charitable resources are utilized.”
In light of the lawsuit, a representative for Harry and Dyer asserted their strong denial of the allegations in a statement to ABC News. “As co-founders and early trustees of Sentebale, they firmly reject these baseless and damaging claims. It is remarkable that funds intended for charitable purposes are now being used to take legal action against those who have supported the organization for nearly twenty years, rather than benefiting the communities the charity was designed to assist,” the spokesperson remarked.
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III, co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho after spending a gap year in the nation in 2004. Harry has previously mentioned that the charity’s name, which translates to “forget me not” in Sesotho, serves as a tribute to his late mother, who was instrumental in reducing the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and had a fondness for the forget-me-not flower.
In March 2025, both Harry and Seeiso stepped down from their patron roles, citing irreparable damage in the relationship between the charity’s chair and its trustees. “It is with great sadness that we have chosen to resign as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in solidarity with the board of trustees who have also resigned,” they expressed in a statement shared with ABC News. “It is heartbreaking that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair deteriorated to an unmanageable state, prompting these trustees to request her resignation while prioritizing staff welfare. In response, she filed a lawsuit against the charity to retain her voluntary position, further highlighting the fractured relationship. We are grateful to all the trustees for their years of service and are deeply saddened they felt compelled to take this action.”
Simultaneously, Sentebale’s chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka, accused the board of trustees of engaging in “poor governance” and “bullying,” leading the charity to announce a restructuring of its board. In an August report, the UK’s Charity Commission, which oversees registered charities in England and Wales, stated it found no indications of “widespread or systemic bullying or harassment” at Sentebale. The commission noted a “lack of clarity” in the charity’s organizational structure that contributed to confusion and criticized the public nature of the internal disputes.
Before resigning as patron, Harry had been deeply committed to Sentebale, frequently visiting Lesotho and raising funds through charity polo matches and other events. In 2015, he was present for the inauguration of Mamohato’s Children Centre, where he named the dining area “Princess of Wales Hall” in honor of Diana.
