Prince Harry Cleared of Racism in Sentebale Charity Probe, Commission Criticizes Public Fallout

The explosive public collapse of Prince Harry’s beloved charity, Sentebale, earlier this year sent shockwaves far beyond the usual royal gossip. Accusations of bullying, misogyny, and racism flew between the Duke of Sussex and the charity’s chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, culminating in Harry’s heartbroken resignation. Now, the UK’s Charity Commission has delivered its long-awaited ruling: while Prince Harry is cleared of the most serious allegations, including racism, the watchdog strongly criticized all parties for letting their bitter feud inflict severe reputational damage on the vital organization he co-founded nearly two decades ago in memory of Princess Diana.

What Sparked Prince Harry’s Sentebale Charity Crisis?

The charity Sentebale, meaning “Forget Me Not,” was co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Its mission focused on supporting children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. However, internal strife erupted dramatically in March 2025. Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso, and the entire board of trustees abruptly resigned. The catalyst was a profound breakdown in relations between Harry and the chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

Chandauka publicly accused Harry and others involved of “bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir” following the public announcement of his resignation. She claimed this publicity made her a target for those who “play the victim card,” as reported by The Guardian (August 5, 2025). Chandauka emphasized her commitment to strong governance and Sentebale’s core mission amidst the chaos. Sources close to Harry described him as being “in shock” and “truly heartbroken” over the implosion of an organization deeply tied to his mother’s legacy. The Charity Commission immediately launched a formal investigation.

Charity Commission Verdict: Clearing Harry While Criticizing Public Feud

The Charity Commission’s report, published on August 5, 2025, brought a mixed outcome. Crucially, it found no evidence to substantiate Dr. Chandauka’s serious accusations against Prince Harry of racism, misogyny, misogynoir, or harassment. It also found no evidence of “overreach” by the Duke in his role as co-founder. This clearance was welcomed by Harry’s spokesperson, though they noted the report “falls troublingly short in many regards” according to The Guardian.

However, the Commission delivered sharp criticism for how the dispute was handled. It slammed both sides for “allowing it to play out publicly.” David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, stated: “Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk[ing] overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.” The report specifically highlighted Harry’s public resignation as an action that “severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.” It also cited a “lack of clarity” in governance structures that allowed misunderstandings to fester.

Reputational Fallout for Sentebale’s Mission

The Commission’s findings underscore the core tragedy: a charity dedicated to vulnerable children became collateral damage in a high-profile leadership clash. While Prince Harry is absolved of the gravest personal allegations, the public airing of grievances inflicted undeniable harm. The report emphasizes that the internal problems “should not have played out in the open.” The focus now shifts to Sentebale’s future. Can it rebuild public trust and secure the funding needed to continue its critical work in Lesotho, free from the shadow of this damaging feud? The Commission has mandated governance reforms, but restoring its reputation will be a longer journey.

The Charity Commission’s ruling delivers vindication for Prince Harry on the explosive accusations of racism and misogyny but serves as a stark warning about the devastating consequences when philanthropic leaders wage public battles. Sentebale’s vital mission, born from Princess Diana’s legacy, now faces an uphill struggle to recover the trust shattered by its founders’ very public and bitter falling out. Learn more about the Charity Commission’s regulatory role on their official website.

Must Know

1. What is Sentebale and why did Prince Harry co-found it?
Sentebale, meaning “Forget Me Not,” is a charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Its primary mission is to support children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. Harry established it to honor his mother, Princess Diana’s, legacy of compassion and work with HIV/AIDS causes.

2. What accusations were made against Prince Harry regarding Sentebale?
Dr. Sophie Chandauka, Sentebale’s chair, accused Prince Harry and others involved in the March 2025 resignations of “bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir” (prejudice against Black women). She claimed these actions followed the public announcement of Harry’s resignation, which she felt unfairly targeted her.

3. What did the Charity Commission conclude about the accusations against Harry?
The Charity Commission’s investigation, reported on August 5, 2025, found no evidence to support the accusations of racism, misogyny, misogynoir, or harassment made against Prince Harry. It also found no evidence of him improperly overreaching his role.

4. What did the Charity Commission criticize Prince Harry for?
The Commission strongly criticized Prince Harry (and all parties involved) for allowing the internal dispute to become a very public spectacle. It specifically stated Harry’s public resignation “severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.”

5. What impact did the public feud have on Sentebale?
The Charity Commission stated the public dispute caused significant reputational damage to Sentebale, overshadowed its achievements, and jeopardized its ability to deliver services to the vulnerable children it was created to serve. Rebuilding trust and securing funding are now major challenges.

6. What happens to Sentebale now?
The Charity Commission has mandated governance reforms for Sentebale to prevent similar crises. The focus will be on stabilizing the organization, implementing these reforms, and attempting to rebuild its reputation and donor confidence to continue its mission in Lesotho.