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A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in Africa to honor his late mother, Princess Diana, has sued him for defamation after he stepped down as a patron last year.
Sentebale, which supports young people living with HIV in Botswana and Lesotho, filed suit last month in London’s High Court against Harry and his friend, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity. Court records viewed Friday indicate the lawsuit alleges either libel or slander, though specific documents detailing the claims were not available.
In a statement published on its website Friday, Sentebale explained its legal action: “The charity seeks the court’s intervention, protection, and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since 25 March 2025 that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners.”
A spokesperson representing both Harry and Dyer has firmly denied the allegations, stating that the pair “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims.”
This legal battle places the Duke of Sussex in an unusual position as a defendant rather than a plaintiff in the High Court. Over the past three years, Harry has been the primary claimant in several high-profile invasion of privacy lawsuits against Britain’s most prominent tabloids, alleging phone hacking and unlawful surveillance by journalists and private investigators.
The charity at the center of the dispute holds special significance for the prince. Harry co-founded Sentebale, which means “forget me not” in the language of Lesotho, approximately 20 years ago alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. The organization was established to honor Princess Diana, who was a prominent advocate for HIV and AIDS treatment and worked tirelessly to reduce the stigma surrounding the disease.
Tensions within the charity reportedly began to surface in 2023 over disagreements regarding a new fundraising strategy. The situation deteriorated to the point where both founders stepped down as patrons in March 2025, expressing solidarity with trustees who had previously resigned.
At the time of their departure, Harry and Prince Seeiso indicated that the relationship between the board and its chair, Sophie Chandauka, had become irreparable. Chandauka subsequently accused Harry of orchestrating a campaign of bullying and harassment aimed at forcing her out of her position.
As the dispute unfolded publicly, Chandauka told Sky News that filming for one of Harry’s Netflix programs had interfered with a scheduled Sentebale fundraiser. She also claimed that an incident involving his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, had become a source of friction within the organization.
The Charity Commission for England and Wales launched an investigation into the matter and ultimately criticized both sides for allowing the dispute to become public, damaging the organization’s reputation. However, the commission found no evidence to support allegations of widespread bullying or misogyny within Sentebale.
“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardizing the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” said commission CEO David Holdsworth in a statement released in August 2025.
Following the commission’s report, Harry’s spokesperson expressed criticism of its findings, while Chandauka welcomed the conclusions.
This legal battle represents a significant escalation in an already public dispute involving one of Harry’s most personal charitable endeavors. The case could potentially further complicate the Duke’s relationship with charitable organizations in the UK and Africa, especially those connected to his mother’s legacy.
The lawsuit also comes at a time when Harry and Meghan continue to develop their post-royal identity and charitable focus through their Archewell Foundation, based in the United States, where the couple now resides after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
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28 Comments
The charity’s claims of reputational damage are concerning. Nonprofits rely heavily on their public image, so this dispute could undermine their crucial work.
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Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
This dispute between Prince Harry and the Sentebale charity is an unfortunate situation. Charities need to maintain strong public trust, so lawsuits like this can be very damaging.
The charity’s accusations of a ‘coordinated adverse media campaign’ are quite serious. I hope this can be resolved through open communication and a focus on the charity’s crucial mission.
It will be important for both sides to present their cases transparently and avoid further damaging the charity’s reputation.
Lawsuits between high-profile individuals and charities are always tricky. I hope both sides can find a resolution that allows Sentebale to focus on its important mission.
Charities need to maintain public trust, so this dispute could have wider ramifications beyond just the specific parties involved.
The charity’s claims of a ‘coordinated adverse media campaign’ are concerning. Nonprofits should be able to focus on their important work without distractions from legal disputes.
It will be interesting to see what specific allegations are made and what evidence the charity has to support their claims against Prince Harry.
This is an interesting development in the relationship between Prince Harry and the charity he co-founded. It will be important to follow the details of the lawsuit to understand the nature of the alleged defamation and reputational harm.
Charities rely heavily on public perception and trust, so any disputes with high-profile patrons can be damaging. Hopefully this can be resolved amicably between the parties.
Defamation lawsuits can be tricky, especially when high-profile individuals are involved. I hope both sides can find a resolution that allows the charity to continue its important work.
It will be important for the public to have access to the details of the case in order to properly assess the merits of the claims on both sides.
This case highlights the complexities that can arise when public figures are involved with charities. Maintaining positive relationships is crucial for nonprofits to effectively carry out their missions.
Interesting update on Britain’s Prince Harry sued for defamation by African charity Sentebale. Curious how the grades will trend next quarter.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
This is a complex situation with important implications for the charity’s ability to continue its work. I hope the legal process can shed light on the specifics of the dispute.
This is an unfortunate situation that highlights the challenges faced by charities when working with high-profile individuals. I hope a resolution can be found that allows Sentebale to continue its important mission.
Lawsuits like this can be very damaging, both financially and reputationally, for charities. I hope both sides can find a way to move forward constructively.
The charity’s allegations of a ‘coordinated adverse media campaign’ are quite serious. I hope the legal process can shed light on the specifics of the dispute and allow Sentebale to focus on its work.