Sentebale, a charity established by Prince Harry in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against him following his resignation as a patron in 2025.
The organization, which aids children and youth affected by HIV in Botswana and Lesotho, lodged the lawsuit on March 24 at the High Court in London, according to records obtained by the Associated Press.
In its legal filing, Sentebale has requested court intervention for “protection and restitution,” alleging that it has been subjected to a “coordinated adverse media campaign” that began on March 25, 2025. The charity claims this campaign has led to “operational disruption and reputational damage” to itself, its leadership, and its partners.
Prince Harry and his associate, Mark Dyer, who previously served as a trustee of Sentebale, are facing allegations of either libel or slander, thereby becoming defendants in the case. A spokesperson for the duo has firmly rejected these accusations, labeling them “offensive and damaging.”
The spokesperson further expressed concern over the use of charitable funds for legal pursuits against individuals who have contributed to the organization for nearly twenty years instead of directing resources to the communities the charity was meant to assist.
In its public statement, Sentebale claimed that Harry and Dyer were responsible for the media campaign that incited a “wave of cyberbullying” against the charity’s leadership.
The organization stated that false information was disseminated about it and its leadership, which aimed to “undermine its relationships with staff, current and potential partners, and to divert leadership resources toward managing a reputation crisis not of the charity’s making,” as reported by The Guardian.
The charity’s board and executive director have opted for legal action to safeguard its resources and to stop the use of those resources to address the fallout from the misleading media campaign.
Sentebale clarified that it is not utilizing charitable funds for the lawsuit and that any costs incurred are being covered by external funding sources.
The relationship between Prince Harry and Sentebale’s chair, Sophie Chandauka, has reportedly deteriorated irreparably since 2023.
At that time, a conflict arose over a new fundraising strategy, with Chandauka accusing Harry of orchestrating a bullying campaign that led to her departure from the organization, as noted by the Associated Press.
Chandauka told Sky News that filming for one of Harry’s Netflix projects disrupted a planned fundraiser for Sentebale and mentioned that an incident involving his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, contributed to the tensions.
As disagreements persisted, both founders stepped down as patrons in March 2025 in solidarity with the trustees who had resigned, the report indicated.
Following an extensive investigation, the Charity Commission for England and Wales criticized both parties in August 2025 for allowing the situation to escalate publicly, which harmed the charity’s reputation, as reported by The Guardian. The Commission also exonerated Harry from any allegations of racism.
David Holdsworth, the CEO of the Commission, stated, “Sentebale’s issues unfolded in the public realm, allowing a damaging dispute to tarnish the charity’s reputation, overshadow its many accomplishments, and threaten its ability to support the very beneficiaries it was established to assist.”
In response to the Commission’s findings, Harry’s spokesperson noted that there were no indications of wrongdoing concerning Prince Harry.
The Commission also found no evidence of widespread bullying or misogyny within Sentebale, contradicting claims made by the current chair. A confidant of Harry stated, “Despite this, the report falls short in several aspects, particularly the reality that the consequences of the chair’s actions will impact the children who depend on Sentebale’s support, not her.”
Sentebale, which means “forget-me-not” in the local language of Lesotho, provides assistance to children and youth in southern Africa, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, to help them gain access to healthcare and education, as well as develop essential life skills, advocacy, vocational training, and resilience against climate change, according to the charity’s website.
Founded in 2006 to honor Princess Diana, who was a strong advocate for HIV and AIDS awareness and worked to reduce stigma, Sentebale employs strategic initiatives to support those from vulnerable backgrounds in collaboration with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded the charity.
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