Breaking News: Prince Harry accused of ‘harassment and bullying at scale’ following…
Prince Harry has been accused of “harassment and bullying at scale” by the chair of the Sentebale charity following his resignation as patron earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex stepped down from the charity he co-founded in 2006 in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
In a joint statement with fellow co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, the pair said they stepped down “in support of and solidarity with” the board of trustees following their disagreements with the chairwoman.
They wrote that the relationship “broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.
The only reason I’m here… is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director,” Dr Sophie Chandauka told Sky News.
“Can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family?”
That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex declined to offer any formal response to the accusations
A source close to the former trustees of Sentebale has described Dr Chandauka’s claims as “completely baseless”.
They rejected allegations that she was bullied and harassed, or that Prince Harry had briefed against her.
The source also denied that the “Sussex machine” was “unleashed” on her.
However, in a statement earlier this week, Dr Chandauka said: “There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victimcard and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.
She further alleged issues of “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the cover-up that ensued.”
Her statement appeared to be targeted at Prince Harry.
Former trustee Dr Kelello Lerotholi also told the broadcaster he had “never witnessed these issues” and that the claims “came to me as a surprise”.
“I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such,” he said.
The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other,” he added.
Sentebale was established in 2006 to help children and young people in southern Africa, particularly those with HIV and Aids.
Prince Harry was inspired to start the charity after spending two months in Lesotho during his gap year in 2004.
The small African country has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV and AIDS.
The Duke visited Lesotho as recently as last October to see the charity’s work.
