Prince Harry has officially stepped down from his position at Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to honor their late mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamahato. The decision comes amid internal issues within the organization, and both Harry and Seeiso expressed deep sorrow over the situation in a heartfelt statement.
In their message, they wrote, “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as Patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”
Trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Dr. Kelello Lerotholi, and Damian West have all stepped down from their roles following a rift with the organization’s chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
The conflict intensified when the trustees urged Dr. Chandauka to resign, raising concerns about the charity’s governance. However, rather than stepping down, she responded by filing a lawsuit against the organization, further deepening the crisis.
As a result, the former trustees collectively decided to step down. In their official statement, they expressed, “We are deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the Founding Patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry, who founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers.”
They reaffirmed their dedication to the organization’s mission, calling their resignation a painful but necessary decision. The trustees also voiced their disappointment over the internal conflicts that led to a legal dispute.
“We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions. This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity,” they explained.
Despite the difficult circumstances, they hoped their departure would bring stability to Sentebale and allow its essential work to continue, benefiting both its staff and the communities it serves.
Prince Harry and Seeiso acknowledged the trustees’ years of dedication and lamented that the situation had escalated to such an extreme.
“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about,” they stated.
Although Harry and Seeiso have stepped down from their roles as patrons of Sentebale, they emphasized that their bond with the organization remains as strong as ever.
The two remain deeply committed to its mission and the people it serves. As founders, they continue to recognize the charity’s potential and the meaningful change it can create under effective leadership.
However, Sentebale clarified that it has not yet received formal resignations from its royal patrons, Harry and Seeiso. The charity also announced a board restructuring on March 25, 2025, as part of its efforts to bring in experts and strengthen its ongoing transformation.
The organization takes its name from the Sesotho word for “forget-me-not” and has long been committed to helping vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana.
Harry first traveled to Lesotho in 2004, where he saw firsthand the struggles many children faced. Moved by the experience, he and Seeiso co-founded Sentebale to provide support for at-risk youth.
For Harry, Sentebale was a way to carry on Princess Diana’s mission of advocating for those affected by AIDS. According to the organization’s website, it was “deeply inspired by their mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamahato—courageous women who used their platforms to raise awareness about difficult subjects and brought hope and help to vulnerable communities.”
As a result, the organization initially aimed to tackle the stigma surrounding HIV, which had left countless children orphaned. Over the years, Sentebale broadened its scope, launching the Mamahato Centre and developing a network of clubs, camps, and programs designed to support and empower young people in Lesotho and Botswana.