In a shocking turn of events, Sophie Chandauka, chairperson of Sentebale—a charity co-founded by Prince Harry—has accused the royal of orchestrating a bullying and harassment campaign aimed at forcing her out of her role. This accusation arose following Harry's abrupt resignation as a patron, which he announced amid a deeply troubling internal dispute within the organization he helped establish in 2006 to aid children in southern Africa affected by HIV/AIDS.

Chandauka, in a revealing interview with Sky News, voiced her concerns that Harry’s lucrative Netflix deal significantly interfered with a planned fundraiser. Tensions escalated further due to an incident involving Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, which Chandauka claims has added to the dysfunction within the charity.

Harry's departure as a patron was accompanied by a statement from him and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, expressing their sorrow over the breakdown of relations between Chandauka and the charity's trustees. The princes stated they were compelled to resign “with heavy hearts” to support five trustees who stepped down due to their inability to resolve the conflict with Chandauka, who has refused to resign despite requests.

Chandauka's revelations have cast a shadow over the charity's mission. She has reportedly filed legal documentation to retain her position and has accused the trustees of misconduct, suggesting a troubling environment of "abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir," a term used to describe the intersection of racism and sexism faced by Black women.

Describing Harry's resignation as a major instance of “harassment and bullying at scale,” Chandauka claimed that the prince also attempted to obstruct her whistleblower complaint to the Charity Commission in the U.K. “So it’s a cover-up, and the prince is involved,” she stated emphatically.

Notably, Chandauka mentioned that the charity has suffered a significant reduction in donor support following Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from royal duties in January 2020 and their subsequent relocation to California. In her view, the charity's challenges now include the “toxicity of its lead patron’s brand,” underscoring the difficulties of maintaining a charitable mission under such scrutiny.

A particular incident involving a polo fundraiser last year highlighted these tensions. Chandauka recounted that when Harry sought to bring a film crew for his Netflix series, the costs surged dramatically, complicating the event’s logistics. A surprise appearance from Meghan during the fundraiser further escalated the situation, leading to an awkward trophy presentation moment that attracted media attention and sparked conversations about the dynamics between Chandauka and the Duchess.

In a moment of defiance, Chandauka refused Harry’s plea to issue a statement in support of Meghan, asserting, “We cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.” This decision reflects the growing rift not just within the charity but also between its leadership and its founding members.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the future of Sentebale hangs in the balance. The charity, named after the Sesotho phrase “don’t forget me,” aims to improve health and resilience for youth in southern Africa, and its mission now faces unprecedented challenges stemming from personal conflicts among its high-profile founders.

With further developments anticipated, many are left wondering how this scandal will redefine the relationship between the Sussexes and the charitable landscape they once significantly influenced.