Prince Harry Cleared of Bullying Claims by UK Charity Watchdog
Prince Harry has been officially cleared of bullying allegations following a high‑profile investigation by the UK’s Charity Commission.
The dispute centred around Sentebale, the charity Harry co‑founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, aimed at supporting children living with HIV and AIDS in southern Africa.
The probe was launched earlier this year after Sophie Chandauka, chair of the charity, publicly accused the Duke of Sussex of “bullying.”
Her claims followed a heated internal dispute, which saw multiple trustees walk away after a failed demand for her resignation. Shortly after, both Harry and Prince Seeiso announced they would be stepping down from their roles.
Despite the dramatic fallout, the Charity Commission released a statement on Wednesday concluding there was “no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity.”
However, the regulator didn’t hold back on its criticism of how the matter unfolded.
The public nature of the spat had “severely impacted the charity’s reputation,” the report noted, adding that internal governance issues and a “lack of clarity in delegations” amounted to “mismanagement in the administration of the charity.”
The situation drew attention earlier this year, when Sentebale was called out for mishandling the internal feud in full public view.
To help restore stability, the Commission has now handed Sentebale a formal action plan aimed at fixing its governance structure.
Speaking back in April, Harry called the ordeal “heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal.”
Chandauka, appointed chair in 2023, didn’t hold back in her own accusations. In an interview with Sky News, she claimed Harry had attempted to oust her through “bullying (and) harassment.”
She also voiced concerns about his decision to bring a Netflix camera crew to a polo fundraising event, as well as Meghan Markle’s unexpected appearance at the same gathering.
The controversy came as yet another blow to the prince, who, since stepping away from royal duties in 2020, has retained only a limited number of charitable roles—Sentebale being one of the most prominent.
Still, the Commission’s chief executive, David Holdsworth, made a point of urging unity: “Moving forward, I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity’s services,” he said. “Improvements should now be made.”
Sentebale, which means “Forget Me Not” in the Sesotho language, was named by Prince Harry as a tribute to his mother, Princess Diana. The late Princess died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, when Harry was just 12 years old.
This case marks another chapter in the ongoing public scrutiny surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since their royal exit. But for now, Prince Harry walks away from the Commission’s inquiry with his name cleared, and Sentebale, hopefully, on the path to repair.
