Prince Harry could face further action over claims of bullying and misogyny from the leaders of the African charity he set up.
The Charity Commission disclosed yesterday that after a contentious boardroom conflict at Sentebale, it concluded there was ‘no evidence of widespread or systematic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir’.
Despite the final decision, which reproached all parties involved, neither side was content, and though the regulator encouraged everyone to ‘channel their belief in the charity’s mission in a constructive and collaborative way’, the dispute shows little sign of resolution.
Both camps made serious claims of mismanagement and maladministration against the other.
The current chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, accused the Duke of Sussex of waging a campaign of bullying ‘at scale’ against her. This was strongly denied.
The watchdog acknowledged there was a ‘strong perception’ of ill-treatment by those involved but it could find no evidence of widespread bullying.
Moreover, it confirmed it had no jurisdiction to investigate individual claims. A representative for the prince hailed this as a victory, dismissing the allegations as false.
However, those currently managing Sentebale, after Harry and other trustees resigned en masse in March amid internal strife, stated that such issues ‘can and may be addressed through more suitable avenues’ than the Charity Commission, without further details.
Prince Harry (pictured) could face further action over claims of bullying and misogyny from the leaders of the African charity he set up
The current chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka (pictured, left), accused the Duke of Sussex of waging a campaign of bullying ‘at scale’ against her
The regulator had been asked to investigate a dispute between the prince and its board of trustees on one side and Dr Chandauka on the other.
Harry founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to aid disadvantaged young people in Lesotho and Botswana, with both princes commemorating their late mothers.
The Commission admonished all parties following its review of the ‘damaging internal conflict’. It remarked that the trustees’ inability to address disputes internally ‘significantly harmed the charity’s reputation and risked eroding public trust in charities’.
In a statement, Sentebale said yesterday: ‘The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the Commission’s responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes.
‘This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir [misogyny against black women] etc.
‘As a result, the Commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry. The issues not investigated by the Commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the Commission.’
A source told the Daily Mail that a decision on whether to proceed would be taken by the Sentebale trustees and executive management, although their focus for now was on delivering help to clients.
The regulator had been asked to investigate a dispute between the prince and its board of trustees on one side and Dr Chandauka on the other
Harry set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to work with disadvantaged young people in Lesotho and Botswana
This drew a scathing response from sources close to the original board of trustees – many of whom are Harry’s friends and supporters – who said it was ‘provocative and ‘pitiful’ to ‘rehash unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the Commission found no evidence of’.
The former board of trustees also issued a stinging statement rebuking the Charity Commission for choosing to ‘ignore key concerns and irrefutable evidence’ which they raised over the ‘leadership and oversight’ of Sentebale’s chair.
Sentebale, which has refuted the claims, said it welcomes the conclusion of the compliance case and the issuing of an action plan for the charity moving forward. It said it looked forward to a future ‘free from interference’ with confidence.
