In a startling development, the chairwoman of Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry, has cast serious doubt on the prince's influence, branding his public image as "toxic." This revelation comes after Harry and several others abruptly stepped down from the organization earlier this week.

Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who has been associated with Sentebale since its inception in 2006—founded in memory of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, to aid those living with HIV and AIDS in southern Africa—expressed her growing concerns. In an interview with the Financial Times, she mentioned that tensions between herself and Prince Harry had been brewing for over a year.

Speaking further to Sky News, Dr. Chandauka described Harry's decision to exit as constituting "harassment and bullying at scale." A source linked to the former trustees and patrons maintained that they anticipated such a media display, asserting their commitment to resigning for the charity's benefit while looking forward to uncovering the truth.

Prince Harry cited irreparable issues between the charity's trustees and Dr. Chandauka as the primary reason for his departure. In response, Dr. Chandauka defended her leadership, asserting that the organization's greatest risk stemmed from the detrimental impact of Harry's toxic brand.

The charity, which has been instrumental in supporting vulnerable communities, now faces uncertainty about its future direction without its high-profile co-founder. Dr. Chandauka accused Harry of attempting to engineer a failure to later "come to the rescue," emphasizing the resilience of Sentebale's team, stating, "Sentebale will live on, with or without you."

Moreover, she highlighted how ongoing controversies surrounding Prince Harry and his transition to life in the United States have adversely affected the charity's operations, particularly in diversifying its donor base. "When you start to interview people, they're asking questions about these mixed messages around the patron," she explained.

Dr. Chandauka also alleged that Harry's team had previously urged her to defend Meghan Markle against negative press, to which she firmly declined, stating, "We are not setting a precedent to act as an extension of the Sussex PR machine."

The situation escalated when Dr. Chandauka revealed that Harry authorized the release of damaging news regarding his departure without informing her or the charity's leadership. She expressed concern, saying, "Can you imagine what that attack has done for me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations?"

As both sides prepare for what promises to be a complex and contentious battle over the future of Sentebale, the world watches closely. How this public spat will affect the charity's mission and long-term sustainability remains to be seen. Will Prince Harry be able to mend ties, or does this signal a definitive end to his association with the charity his mother inspired? Stay tuned!