The UK’s charity watchdog has initiated an investigation into concerns raised regarding Sentebale, from which the Duke of Sussex resigned as a patron last week amidst internal conflicts. The Charity Commission confirmed the opening of a compliance case to address the issues raised about Sentebale.
Prince Harry, along with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped down from the charity they established in 2006 to support young people affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana. Following the resignation, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the charity’s chair, alleged on Sky News that Prince Harry engaged in harassment and bullying tactics by leveraging the Sussex PR machine, a claim refuted by a source close to the former trustees as entirely unfounded.
The Charity Commission announced that it is actively gathering evidence and assessing the compliance of the charity and its trustees, present and past, with their legal obligations. The regulator emphasized its focus on ensuring that the trustees fulfill their duties and responsibilities under charity law, without acting as an adjudicator or mediator but rather prioritizing the charitable purpose and beneficiaries.
Dr. Sophie Chandauka raised further concerns during an interview with Sky News, stating that Prince Harry’s actions had a detrimental impact on her and the individuals associated with Sentebale. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex declined to provide a formal response when contacted by Sky News regarding the interview. Meanwhile, a source representing the former trustees dismissed Dr. Chandauka’s allegations of bullying and harassment, asserting that the decision to resign was made in the best interest of the charity.
The joint statement released by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso cited irreconcilable differences with the chairwoman as the reason for their departure, expressing support and solidarity with the resigning board of trustees. The issues reportedly arose from disagreements related to fundraising efforts in Africa.
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