In a development that surprises absolutely no one, Prince Harry has chosen to step away from Sentebale, the very charity he helped establish nearly twenty years ago. The reason? A controversy that might be labeled "unthinkable" by some, yet remains entirely predictable whenever Harry is involved.
To understand how things unraveled, let’s go back to 2006. In what was, at the time, a rare display of meaningful effort, Harry joined forces with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to create Sentebale, an organization dedicated to supporting African orphans affected by poverty and AIDS. The name “Sentebale” translates to “Forget Me Not”—an ironic choice, given how quickly Harry appears to be forgetting his commitment to it.
Fast-forward to the present, and the charity is in complete disarray. Once respected for its work, Sentebale is now at the center of a full-blown crisis due to the dramatic collapse of its leadership. The turmoil stems from a major dispute between the charity’s trustees and its chair, Zimbabwean-born lawyer Sophie Chandauka. What started as internal disagreements quickly escalated into an all-out legal battle. Chandauka was appointed chair last year, a decision that didn’t sit well with the trustees, who wanted her removed. She refused to step down, and what followed was a spectacular implosion, one that rivals the rapid decline of Harry’s public favorability.
So how did Harry handle this mess? Did he take responsibility or attempt to mediate? Absolutely not. Instead, he, along with his co-founder Prince Seeiso and the entire board of trustees, dramatically resigned, making their exit with the kind of flair usually reserved for reality TV walk-offs. In a statement filled with performative regret, they expressed their “shock” at being forced to step down—acting as though they had been banished rather than voluntarily choosing to abandon ship.
The real reason behind Harry’s departure, however, seems to center around fundraising. Chandauka had reportedly pushed for a new approach—raising and managing funds locally in Africa rather than relying on extravagant charity galas in New York or lavish polo matches where donations and champagne flow equally. This shift would mean fewer high-profile events and, crucially, less opportunity for Harry to leverage the royal brand for personal gain. In other words, the charity was evolving in a way that no longer suited his financial interests or his relentless pursuit of celebrity status. Without the benefit of red-carpet exposure masked as philanthropy, his enthusiasm for Sentebale conveniently evaporated.
Adding to the chaos, the UK’s Charity Commission has now launched an investigation into Sentebale over governance concerns. And as the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Could financial mismanagement be at play? Were funds being handled in a way that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny? Why was Chandauka so determined to hold her ground? And perhaps most intriguing—how does Meghan Markle fit into all of this? Chandauka is reportedly the same woman Meghan allegedly sidelined during a charity polo match photo op. Coincidence? Unlikely. Maybe the Sussexes weren’t expecting her to be quite so resilient. If only she had mastered the perfect curtsy, right?
One thing is certain—this is no noble exit, no matter how Harry tries to spin it. This is about cutting ties before another scandal explodes in his face. It’s about jumping ship before the truth about Sentebale’s internal conflicts and finances becomes fully exposed. More than anything, it’s about protecting the Sussex brand from yet another PR disaster.
