The Duke of Sussex is facing legal action from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded, as tensions continue to escalate surrounding the organization.
The charity has filed a defamation lawsuit in the High Court in London, citing both Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants in the case.
This development follows a public dispute between Prince Harry and Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the chair of Sentebale, which intensified after Harry stepped down as a patron of the charity last year.
Sentebale focuses on supporting children and youth in southern Africa. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles in March 2025, with subsequent resignations from trustees arising from disagreements with Chandauka, who was appointed in 2023.
The charity announced that it had initiated legal proceedings due to “a coordinated negative media campaign” that began on March 25, 2025, which has reportedly led to operational challenges and harmed the charity’s reputation, along with that of its leadership and strategic partners.
Sentebale’s statement noted, “The legal action has been directed at Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified as the primary individuals behind this detrimental media campaign, which has resulted in significant viral damage and a wave of cyberbullying aimed at the organization and its leaders.”
The charity expressed concerns about false narratives being spread in the media regarding its leadership, attempts to damage relationships with both current and potential partners, and the diversion of essential resources to manage a crisis that was not of their creation.
Sentebale emphasized that it should not have to expend its resources addressing the fallout from this adverse media campaign, asserting the need for it to cease. The board and executive director have decided to pursue legal action to protect the charity’s interests, with all associated costs covered by external funding, ensuring no charitable funds have been utilized.
The lawsuit was officially filed on March 24, as confirmed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, although additional details have not been disclosed.
Representatives for Prince Harry have been contacted for their response to the lawsuit.
In August 2025, the Charity Commission criticized Prince Harry for allowing the public dispute with Chandauka to unfold in the media, although it cleared him of any allegations of racism.
Following the announcement of his resignation, Chandauka claimed to have faced targeted attacks from individuals she described as “playing the victim card.” She characterized the situation as a narrative about “a woman who dared to expose issues related to poor governance, weak management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against black women, along with the subsequent cover-up.”
The regulator’s compliance case ruling admonished all parties involved in the conflict for allowing it to be played out publicly. It noted that the failure of the then trustees to resolve their disagreements internally had significantly harmed the charity’s reputation and posed risks to public trust in charitable organizations overall.
The commission determined that a serious dispute arose between Chandauka and Prince Harry following the creation of a new fundraising strategy aimed at the United States.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry, who is not currently a trustee of Sentebale and founded the charity in memory of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, criticized the commission’s findings, stating that the report failed to adequately address the issues at hand.
They remarked, “It is not surprising that the commission found no wrongdoing involving Prince Harry, and there was no evidence of widespread bullying or harassment, contrary to the current chair’s claims. Despite this, the report is lacking in several areas, particularly regarding the fallout of the chair’s actions, which will ultimately affect the vulnerable children who depend on Sentebale’s assistance.”
“Sentebale has always been a deeply personal mission for Prince Harry, aimed at assisting some of the most at-risk children in Lesotho and Botswana.”
