Dr Sophie Chandauka, chair of the Sentebale charity’s board of trustees, has accused Prince Harry of “harassment and bullying at scale”, claiming his actions have had a negative impact on the charity and its staff.
Dr Chandauka also criticised the Sussex brand, describing it as “toxic” and a significant risk to the charity.
During a Sky News interview with Trevor Phillips, Dr Chandauka was asked if the Duke of Sussex is the “number one risk” to the charity and replied that he was.
She has alleged that Prince Harry’s involvement in certain events, such as a polo fundraiser, caused disruptions and strained relationships within the organisation.
Previously, Dr Chandauka had refused to step down from her role as chair after being asked to leave by trustees. It is understood Dr Chandauka sued the charity so that she didn’t have to leave her position.
This controversy has led to Prince Harry stepping down as a patron of the charity, which he co-founded in 2006 in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. Other staff have also stepped down in the past week.
As well as Harry, Dr Chandauka is now accusing others at the charity of “bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir” (sexism against black women).
In a statement, she said: “There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.”
What is Sentebale?
Prince Harry set up Sentebale alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, when Harry was 22 years old. It was the result of his “life-changing” trip to Lesotho in 2004, when he volunteered in the southern African nation during his gap year.
The charity aims to help children and adolescents struggling to come to terms with their HIV and AIDS diagnoses. After 10 years of operating in Lesotho, in November 2016, the charity launched an operation in Botswana. It also hosts an annual Sentebale Polo Cup, in which Prince Harry usually participates, which is held each year to raise money for the charity.
Who is Sophie Chandauka?
Sophie Chandauka is a corporate finance lawyer who was born in Zimbabwe and has spent much of her life practising law in London. She was appointed as chair of Sentebale in July 2023. She has been on the board of trustees since 2008.
Dr Chandauka also works as the head of Americas risk management and intelligence at Meta. She has previously acted as global COO of shared services and banking operations at Morgan Stanley in New York and CAO of the legal and compliance division of Morgan Stanley in EMEA in London.
As well as growing up in Zimbabwe, Dr Chandauka has lived in Canada as part of a student exchange programme, in Michigan for her university degree and London for the first few years of her career as a corporate finance lawyer at Baker McKenzie.
In 2007, Dr Chandauka was shortlisted as a finalist for the British Legal Awards’ Young Solicitor of the Year and in the 2021 Queen's birthday honours she was awarded an MBE “for services to Diversity in Business”.
She took over from Johnny Hornby, a PR executive and former managing director at TBWA, the marketing company that managed Tony Blair's 2001 election campaign.
What is happening with Sophie Chandauka and Sentebale?
Dr Chandauka came under fire in early 2025 for her behaviour as chair and was asked to resign. The dispute reportedly arose from a decision to focus fundraising in Africa. She refused to resign and instead sued the charity so she could retain her position.
Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso and several other trustees have now left the board, prompting Chandauka to speak out about her decision to stay. "Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve,” she said.
“My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means. There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.”
Sophie Chandauka also claimed she had reported trustees to the Charity Commission and that the high court had issued an emergency injunction to prevent her removal from her role.
“Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued,” Sophie Chandauka continued in her statement.
“I could be anyone. I just happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law will guide and protect me. I will say nothing further on this matter at this time.”
What has she accused Prince Harry of?
Dr Chandauka told Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that the Duke of Sussex was said to have been responsible for “unleashing of the Sussex [PR] machine” against her.
The Sentebale chair said: “The only reason I'm here … is because, at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director. And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family?
“That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
She claimed the charity lost sponsors and donors after the Sussexes left the UK but she was not allowed to address the issue. The Sentebale chair also alleged Prince Harry allegedly tried to “eject” her from the organisation and appointed board members without consulting her.
Another claim was that Prince Harry asked for a public message of support for Meghan after a polo fundraiser “went badly”.
Dr Chandauka alleged his actions, such as bringing a Netflix crew to a polo fundraiser, led to logistical issues and financial strain for the charity.
Additionally, she claimed the Duchess of Sussex’s unexpected attendance at the event, along with a celebrity friend, caused disruptions.
Dr Chandauka refused Prince Harry's request to issue a public statement supporting Meghan, stating the charity could not act as an extension of the Sussexes.
The trustee chair also mentioned she had raised concerns about bullying, harassment and misogyny within the organisation, which she claimed Prince Harry interfered with.
What has been the response from Prince Harry, Sentebale and Netflix?
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex have not publicly commented on Dr Chandauka’s allegations, and sources close to them have rejected the claims as “baseless”.
One source close to the charity’s former trustees described Dr Chandauka's account of the polo match as “highly misleading”.
Sky News said it has contacted Netflix, which declined to comment.
However, according to Sky, an allegation that the press was informed about the royal patrons’ departure as trustees before the charity has been described by a source as “categorically untrue”.
In response to Dr Chandauka's claim that the Duke of Sussex was “forcing the failure” of the charity, the source referred to a statement from Prince Harry and his co-founder of Sentebale, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, which read: “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.
"These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.”
