PRINCE Harry’s Sentebale row continued yesterday as he was accused of “forgetting the rules governing a charity apply to him”.
Journalist Sir Trevor Phillips — who broke the story of the Duke’s exit — also warned Harry against “hand-to-hand combat” with its boss Dr Sophie Chandauka.
Meanwhile, an insider at Sentebale said the Duke of Sussex should be concerned about what may be revealed about his dealings with Dr Chandauka, who he has accused of “blatant lies”.
Sources said Harry should be “nervous” that an alleged unpleasant note to her could be made public.
Last month, he quit the Lesotho-based HIV and Aids charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana.
Fellow royal patron Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the rest of the Sentebale board also resigned after falling out with Zimbabwe-born lawyer Ms Chandauka, 47.
She has accused Harry, 40, of bullying and harassment.
She also said donations had fallen since Harry and wife Meghan quit as working royals — as their brand was now seen as toxic.
In an interview on Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips last weekend, she claimed Harry allowed his Netflix show to wreck a fundraising event and said he authorised the release of damaging news about her.
Sir Trevor, writing for The Sun on Sunday said: “I can vouch for her integrity, and her commitment can hardly be questioned.
“Her own family is Sentebale’s third largest donor.
“And whilst the Duke will no doubt have had weapons training in his Army career, I would strongly have advised against hand-to-hand combat with her.”
Sir Trevor added: “My guess is what has happened is that the Duke brought in the high-flying lawyer in the hope of strengthening its governance and raising more American money.
“Harry, understandably, wanted to grow Sentebale.
“But running a not-for-profit with hundreds of employees, spending money from major corporations, demands a different kind of leadership.
“And like many in his class he may have forgotten that the rules governing a charity have to apply to him too.”
The Charity Commission watchdog is investigating.
In a statement, Harry said: “We fully expect the inquiry will unveil the truth.”
NOISY CLASH HURTS CAUSE
By Trevor Phillips
In Africa, they say that “when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that hurts”.
The noisy clash between Prince Harry and Sophie Chandauka, the woman he himself brought in to lead his African charity Sentebale threatens to bring a world of pain to the thousands of young Africans who depend on its support and services.
Millions have lost children, parents, brothers and sisters in the HIV/AIDS epidemic that still ravages Southern Africa.
The war inside Sentebale will have added public scandal to personal tragedy.
Two weeks ago, the Prince announced that he was resigning as a patron of his own charity, citing deep differences with Chandauka.
Last Sunday, she replied with a fiery interview on my Sky News show, accusing the Prince himself of harassing and bullying her and others who worked for the charity.
Three days ago, the Charity Commission announced an investigation into the organisation, plunging it into further uncertainty.
There is no doubt that both Harry and Sophie are deeply committed to the cause.
They just have diametrically opposed views about how to go about its work.
In 2006, then 19-year-old Harry, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho launched Sentebale, to offer advice, education and jobs to families ravaged by the HIV/AIDS epidemic which had been plaguing Southern Africa for over two decades.
His celebrity status helped to raise – he claims – some £12 million.
Chandauka joined the board in the charity’s early years.
Back then, the Zimbabwean-born corporate lawyer helped to build its reputation and funding through her network of African contacts. Sentebale flourished.
She stepped down in 2015 believing that the work was in good hands.
Thereafter, as a wise woman once said, recollections vary.
Harry’s supporters claim that in 2023, Chandauka elbowed her way back into the no-longer-royal circle and then proceeded to wreck the organisation’s finances.
She says that she was brought back by Harry’s team to help arrest the drain of donor funds caused by the Prince’s split from the royal family.
Speaking for the first time publicly last week, Chandauka made three damaging allegations.
First, that Harry treated the charity as his own personal fiefdom, run by his courtiers, and that he saw himself as above the rules that normally govern UK charities.
Second, that he agreed in theory to move the running of Sentebale’s affairs to Southern Africa, where its activities take place, but that when confronted with the consequence – that he would no longer be able to exercise day-to-day control – he balked.
And finally, the most damaging of all was her suggestion that the Sussexes used Sentebale as a prop in their film deal with Netflix.
The Duke and his team deny all three allegations, and insist that any fault lies entirely with the chair, complaining that she spent money unnecessarily on expensive consultants.
Who do I believe is in the right here?
There is no doubt that the Prince has a deep affection for Sentebale’s work, and that without his presence it would never have grown to become the multi-million pound outfit it is with hundreds of employees doing great work.
But I have known and worked with Chandauka for several years.
I can vouch for her integrity, and her commitment can hardly be questioned : her own family is Sentebale’s third largest donor.
And whilst the Duke will no doubt have had advanced weapons training in his Army career, I would strongly have advised against hand-to-hand combat with her.
My guess is that what has happened is that the Duke brought in the high-flying lawyer in the hope of strengthening its governance and raising more American money.
Harry, understandably wanted to grow Sentebale to maturity.
But running a not-for-profit with hundreds of employees, spending money from major corporations demands a different kind of leadership to a small start-up.
And like many in his class he may have forgotten that the rules governing a charity have to apply to him too.
For the sake of those still suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the rest of us can only hope that the warring parties reflect on yet another African proverb which urges them to come together and talk: “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, and the foolish build dams”.
