Prince Harry will be ‘cut’ by the allegations of racism and misogyny that are coming from his beloved charity Sentabale, say royal experts.
But according to the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden, ‘what goes around, comes around’ as they were the same toxic accusations he made at the Royal Family in his bombshell Oprah interview in March 2021.
The comments come amid the bitter internal power struggle in that charity that exploded this week which saw the Duke of Sussex unexpectedly step down.
The Duke of Sussex revealed ‘unthinkable infighting’ had led to his shock resignation from the charity which he founded in 2006 in honour of Princess Diana to help young people in southern Africa living with HIV and AIDS.
In a bombshell statement, Harry lamented the ‘devastating’ decision to quit as patron alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, while his ‘second dad’ Mark Dyer also resigned as trustee.
Several other trustees have left in the dispute with chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka who issued a stinging response taking aim at ‘weak executive management’ and appearing to criticise Harry for ‘playing the victim card’.
She also hit out at ‘abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir [discrimination against black women]’ at the charity.
When asked on the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s YouTube show Palace Confidential if the allegations impact Harry’s image as a charitable figure, Richard Eden replied: ‘Let’s be clear. Dr Chandauka claims will be deeply painful for Harry, they really will sting.
Prince Harry will be ‘cut’ by the allegations of racism and misogyny that are coming from his beloved charity Sentabale, say royal experts. Pictured: Harry in Lesotho in October 2024
Sentabale chairwoman Doctor Sophie Chandauka has issued a stinging response taking aim at ‘weak executive management’ and appearing to criticise Harry for ‘playing the victim card’. Pictured: Chandauka at the ‘Potential is Waiting’ panel in Miami Beach in April 2024
The accusations of racism and misogyny implied as being made against the charity leadership including Harry are the same toxic accusations he made against the Royal Family in his bombshell Oprah interview in March 2021, according to Richard Eden
Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden spoke about the ongoing Sentabale feud on the latest episode of the YouTube show Palace Confidential
Watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential here:
‘I mean, just think about it, you know, the idea was that this year is sort of Megan’s year to make money. My goodness, you know, we’re fed up of her already.
‘Harry would be able to concentrate on his charitable works, which were mainly Invictus, Sentabale, and a few other things.
‘So to be accused of, essentially, to be accused of racism and misogyny. I mean, my goodness, you know what goes around, comes around.
‘Remember that that is the toxic accusation that they were levelling at the Royal Family during the Oprah Winfrey interview.
‘I really do think that that’s going to come back to bite them.’
Zimbabwe-born executive Dr Chandauka, who is based in New York City, has been involved with Sentebale since 2009 when she joined the board of trustees until 2015.
The diversity campaigner then became chair in July 2023, succeeding Johnny Hornby who had served 11 years on the board and had been chair since March 2018.
At the time, Dr Chandauka was praised by Harry for her ‘experience, passion for social change and entrepreneurial spirit’ which he said would be a ‘tremendous benefit to Sentebale’s next chapter’.
And Dr Chandauka said upon taking the role that she had benefited from the ‘privilege of a world-class education and career specifically because many people took a chance on me, the young girl from Zimbabwe, and gave me air cover when the odds were stacked against me’.
Her CV includes senior corporate roles leading strategy, legal and operations in technology, retail and investment banking.
Speaking of Dr Chandauka’s allegations, The Mail on Sunday’s Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths said: ‘Well, it wasn’t just barbed. It was cutting, there were razor blades throughout that statement.
‘It went through systematically, and she’s very articulate this woman, she went to Oxford, she’s got an amazing CV.
‘She went through systematically accusing Sentabale and more or less Prince Harry of a number of things, including misogynoir, which is against black women, and misogyny.
‘And actually accused him of leaking to the press more or less, even though, of course, he despises the press.
‘She said, You know, “I’m brave. I’ve whistleblown this situation and this is how I’m attacked”, more or less accusing him of gaslighting.
‘It really is this really cutting statement. I was so shocked.
‘And what’s really worrying for Harry and Sentabale and Prince Seeiso, who might want to defend themselves is that she’s mentioned the law twice in the statement, and she’s clearly, as an ex lawyer, got a very good grasp of the law.
‘She really feels like she will be vindicated in this whole process, and the statement is just pinpoint accurate on each systematic thing she’s accusing them of.’
Harry’s role at Sentebale was one of a small number of private patronages he retained after he was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military positions by the late Queen in 2021 after his departure from the working monarchy was confirmed for good a year after Megxit.
The Charity Commission said it was ‘aware of concerns about the governance’ of Sentebale.
The expert comments were made on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, where a panel of royal experts give their fresh insights and discuss the biggest royal news of the week on YouTube
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry together in October 2024
Harry meets the community at Matlameng – Ha Mahlehle, in Leribe, Lesotho, in October 2024
Harry smiling with guests at a Sentebale charity reception in Johannesburg, South Africa
Harry holds hands with Meghan during a polo match fundraiser for Sentebale in 2024
Prince Harry flanked by Sister Victoria Mota and Prince Seeiso, interacts with pupils at a school in Lesotho during a visit in 2013
Harry farming in Lesotho in 2006, the year he co-founded Sentebale
Prince Harry and Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE (right) speak during the Sentebale ‘Potential is Waiting’ panel discussion in April 2024
‘We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,’ the commission said in a statement.
In their joint statement on Tuesday, Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and said: ‘With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation 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.’
When asked if the news of Harry’s resignation was the first signs of trouble a the charity, Charlotte replied: ‘No, there’s been a number of resignations recently.
‘I reported on Andrew Tucker, who’s known as Tucks to Harry, leaving the charity.
‘And it’s sort of to do with sponsorship. So Tucks was involved in raising big sponsorship money, and he left the charity at a time when the accounts were showing a big, big dip in the sponsorship income.
‘And the sponsorship income comes from Harry doing these star-studded polo matches, among other things.
‘And it seems as though Harry had sort of stopped doing those or giving his star power to the charity.
‘Soon after I wrote this article, he then turned up for the first time in six years in Lesotho, and it seemed to me that that somebody had said to him, look, you need to really put some star power behind it.
The Mail on Sunday’s Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths said the problem signs at the charity have been there for about six months
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho arrive at a special Sentebale event to visit the Pointmain Health Facility on October 2, 2024
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho on a visit in South Africa with the charity and the Prince in October 2024
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and and Dr. Sophie Chandauka are pictured with Prince Harry in 2024
‘And he might not have enjoyed having that conversation. That’s what I was hearing at the time. That’s what we reported. And Andrew Tucker left it around this time. So the signs have been there for about six months.’
Harry spent two months in the kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year when he was 19 in 2004, which inspired him to establish the charity two years later, which now also works in Botswana.
He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas.
The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English also weighed in on the unfolding row surrounding Sentabale.
She said: ‘I think it’s important to emphasise how crushing a blow this will be for him, because it was such a big passion project for him.
‘Set up in memory of his late mother, Sentabale means Forget Me Not in in the local dialect. And I remember, as I said in my story, in 2006, I was out there when they launched it.
‘And this was the time that Harry was 21, he had the reputation as the kind of playboy party Prince.
Rebecca then recalled her experience of hearing Harry’s passion for the project when she visited Lesotho with him in 2006.
Sources close to the Duke have pointed out that he’s not being scrutinised personally in any legal action related to Sentabale.
On the Palace Confidential episode the panel also discussed Rebecca English’s revealing feature about how Kate is continuing her recovery from cancer
Prince William rides a Challenger 2 battle tank during a handover ceremony at Tapa camp in Estonia
There was also chat about Prince William joking about an aubergine being his favourite emoji at a farming event
The experts’ comments were made on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, where a panel of royal experts give their fresh insights and discuss the biggest royal news of the week on YouTube.
On the episode the panel also discussed Rebecca English’s revealing feature about how Kate is continuing her recovery from cancer.
Elsewhere in the show, the panel discussed Prince William was seen eagerly climbing into a British tank after arriving at a NATO base in Estonia to take part in a major military exercise just 90 miles from Russia.
There was also chat about Prince William joking about an aubergine being his favourite emoji at a farming event with Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper.
They also discussed the news of Queen Camilla visiting the Charles Dickens House Museum for its 100th anniversary along with actress Miriam Margolyes.
Later the experts mentioned the reports Prince Andrew could face fresh embarrassment after judges ruled that further documents relating to his dealings with an alleged Chinese spy can be released.
There was also some chat about Meghan Markle launching an Instagram shop selling products she endorses in a commercial arrangement which sees her pocket a commission for each product sold.
Towards the end of the show, the panel looked at Meghan’s trailer for her new podcast: Confessions of a Female Founder.
They also chatted about Meghan and Gwyneth Paltrow appearing in a shock video together to address their ‘breakfast war’.
The royal experts then revealed their unsung royal hero of the week.
To hear all the insights from the team of unrivalled royal experts, watch the full 53 minute-long show on YouTube now.
