Prince Harry Sued by Charity He Co-Founded

The Duke of Sussex is embroiled in a legal battle with the charity he co-established, Sentebale, following a defamation claim. The organization, which focuses on aiding youth in southern Africa, alleges that an “adverse media campaign” has inflicted significant disruption and “reputational harm” on its operations and leadership. A representative for the charity stated that the lawsuit aims to secure the court’s “intervention, protection, and restitution” against coordinated attacks in the media, which they argue have weakened the group’s mission to support young people.

Dispute and Departure

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, a former trustee also named in the case, dismissed the accusations as “offensive and damaging.” The court case, filed in March 2025, lists both Harry and Dyer as defendants under “defamation – libel and slander.” Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, exited the charity in March 2025 amid a contentious disagreement with the chair, Sophie Chandauka. Reports suggest financial tensions and debates over fundraising strategies fueled the conflict, escalating into public scrutiny.

“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 jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth.

The current trustees of Sentebale emphasized that legal expenses are entirely funded by external sources, with no use of charitable funds. They criticized the focus on legal action, urging the charity to prioritize its community work. Prince Harry, who launched Sentebale in 2006 to honor his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, had previously contributed £1.2m from his memoir profits. He described his departure as “devastating,” highlighting the emotional toll of the dispute.

Legal proceedings have been ongoing since March 2025, with the Charity Commission previously noting that the conflict involved “blame on all sides” and criticized the public nature of the argument. The organization’s leadership claims the media campaign has undermined its efforts to assist young people in Botswana and Lesotho, particularly those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Sign up here to receive the latest royal stories and analysis every week via the Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can also register for updates.