Prince Harry Sued for Defamation by Co-Founded Charity Sentebale
Sentebale Initiates Legal Action Against Co-Founder Prince Harry
Sentebale, the charity co-founded by the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has initiated legal proceedings against him for defamation. The action, which also names former trustee Mark Dyer, centres on allegations of an "adverse media campaign" purportedly causing significant disruption and "reputational harm" to the organisation and its leadership.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mr Dyer has unequivocally stated, "They categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims."
The High Court filing, dated 24th March, lists the claim as "defamation - libel and slander." Trustees and the executive director of Sentebale have issued a statement indicating the legal case seeks the court's "intervention, protection, and restitution" against what they assert are co-ordinated media attacks undermining the charity's mission to support young people in southern Africa.
Crucially, the charity has confirmed that all legal costs for the case are being met "entirely by external funding" and no charitable funds are being utilised. Conversely, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Mr Dyer has suggested the charity's efforts would be better directed towards its beneficiaries rather than legal disputes.
Background to the Dispute
This legal confrontation follows an acrimonious period culminating in Prince Harry's departure from Sentebale last year. He, alongside co-founder Prince Seeiso and other trustees, resigned in March 2025 amidst a bitter boardroom dispute with the charity's chair, Sophie Chandauka. Reports indicated disagreements over financial management and fundraising strategies fueled the internal divisions.
The Charity Commission investigated the public fallout, concluding in August 2025 that blame lay with all parties. The watchdog criticised the highly public nature of the dispute, which it deemed detrimental to Sentebale's reputation and its ability to deliver on its mandate. David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, stated, "Sentebale's problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity's reputation... and jeopardising the charity's ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve."
Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in honour of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, with the aim of assisting young people in Botswana and Lesotho, particularly those affected by HIV and AIDS. He had previously donated £1.2 million from the profits of his memoir, Spare, to the charity, describing his departure as "devastating."
