Prince Harry is ‘Torn Apart’ Over Sentebale Charity Resignation, Says Former Trustee

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho are “torn apart” over their decision to quit Sentebale, the charity they cofounded in 2006, a former trustee said.

Speaking to The Times of London on Thursday, March 27, Dr Kelello Lerotholi — one of the charity’s trustees who also quit — said he was “worried about the emotional wellbeing of both princes” following the news.

“I think given their commitment to the welfare of kids, they are torn apart at the thought of looking like they’re abandoning them when they know that they’re not abandoning them,” Lerotholi told the outlet.

Lerotholi is a cousin of Seeiso, 58, and a close friend to Harry, 40, according to The Times. He told the outlet he regards the British royal as “family.”

Harry, Seeiso, and several trustees announced their shocking departure from Sentebale amid conflict with the chair of the board, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, on Tuesday, March 25.

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation,” Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement obtained by multiple outlets.

Harry and Seeiso alleged that Chaundauka sued the charity after being asked to step down from her voluntary position.

“We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the [U.K.] Charity Commission as to how this came about,” the statement added.

However, in part of a statement issued to Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 26, Chandauka accused the charity of “poor governance, weak executive management [and] abuse of power.”

“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct,” Chandauka said.

“Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?” she added.

“Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir — and the coverup that ensued.”

Harry and Seeiso launched the charity to support vulnerable children in Lesotho dealing with issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS.

For his part, Harry was inspired to continue the legacy of his mother, Princess Diana, who was known for her work challenging the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Even the charity’s name — which translates to “forget-me-not” — is a nod to Diana’s favorite flower.

“Given how much [the princes] put of themselves and their mothers in this, if you think about this, the name Sentebale, the literal translation is forget-me-not, they clearly named this entity in memory of both their mothers, who were global mothers, I would say,” Lerotholi told The Times.

“And so for me, I don’t understand why if somebody takes over quote unquote the entity without them, what is that entity in remembrance of?” he added.