Prince Harry will resign from the charity that he founded almost 20 years ago after 'unthinkable' controversy from within, it originated.
Sentebale, which was founded in 2006 the Duke of Sussex, together with Prince Seeiso from Lesoth to benefit African orphans, devotes itself to tackling poverty and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The Royal traveled to Africa last year to support his work and lived proudly on an event in New York in December.
But now Harry has stopped in solidarity with his co-founder and the entire board of directors after 'the relationship between the managers of the charity and the chairman of the board has not demolished more than repair, creating an untenable situation'.
Sophie Chandauka, a lawyer born in Zimbabwe, was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors last year.
It was reported that the managers were deeply unhappy with the decision and wanted them to resign, so she would sue.
The row apparently results from a decision to move its fundraising operation to Africa and several important figures then ran away from the organization.
In a joint statement seen by the Times, but not officially released, Harry and Prince Seeiso wrote: 'What happened is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this. '
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry live in a welcome event last year in Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Center in Lesotho
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex poses for a photo with members of the community during a visit to his charity in South Africa in October 2024
Nacho Figueras, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, chairman of Sentebale, Prince Harry and Richard Miller, depicted in April 2024
Chairman of the board Dr. Sophie Chandauka Mbe and Prince Harry on a sentebal reception and panel discussion in the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in October last year
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Ntoli Moletsane, Land Director, Lesotho, arrive at a special Sentebale event to visit the Pointmain Health Facility on October 2, 2024
'Almost 20 years ago we founded Sentebale in honor of our mothers. Sentebale means “forget me” in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it is what we have always promised for the young people we have served for this charity. '
The statement continued: 'Today is no different. With serious hearts, we have resigned from our role as protecting lords of the organization, to support and solidarity with the board of directors that have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity managers and the chairman of the board did not demolish more than repair, creating an untenable situation. '
Prince Harry chose the side of the managers in the statement and said that they 'acted in the best interest' to ask Chaandauka to resign.
“We thank all the trustes for their service over the years and are really deeply saddled that they have had to follow with this act,” said the statement.
The former managers Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West all said that they have made the 'difficult decision to resign unanimously', but are 'deep proud to have supported the visionary work of Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry'.
“Today's decision is nothing less than devastating to all of us, but we see no other path ahead as a result of our loss in trust and trust in the chairman of the council,” it was.
'Our priority has always been and will always be what is in the best interest of the charity, and it is desperate that the breakdown in the relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the chairman against the charity, to block us after our request for her resignation was rejected.
'We could not allow Sentebale in a good conscience to undertake legal and financial burden and have left no other option than to leave our positions.
“This was not a choice that was made willing, but rather something we felt forced to take care of the charity.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho visit a special Sentebale event to meet adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho last year
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso from Lesotho arrive at a special Sentebale event to visit the Pointmain Health Facility on October 2, 2024
Prince arrives last year during a visit to Matlameng in the Leribe region with Sentebale
Prince Seeiso from Lesotho and Dr. Sophie Chandauka are depicted with Prince Harry in 2024
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho during a visit to South Africa with charity and the prince last year
Chandauka has refused to resign and forced the resignation of the charity managers, including Mark Dyer, a lifelong friend of Prince Harry.
A spokesperson for Sentebale said that the charity had not received a notification of the prince's dismissal.
A spokesperson for a charity committee told the mail: 'We can confirm that we are aware of worries about the board of Sentebale. We assess the problems to determine the correct legal steps'.
It follows Richard Miller who, after five years, stops the role of Sentabale as Chief Executive.
And his departure follows that of Baroness Chalker, the Minister of Overzese development, who resigned the previous month as director.
It was the newest blow for the organization of the Duke of Sussex, who also lost advertising -king Johnny Hornby. After 11 years he went like a trustee, of which he spent five as chairman.
The post on Sunday later showed that Andrew Tucker, who lovingly calls Harry 'Tucks', had fallen from his higher position in Sentebale after almost a decade.
A spokesperson for Sentebale said that it has carried out a 'restructuring' of his board as 'confirmation of his strategy to re -use senior roles to be close to most teams and programs in South Africa'.
