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 yesterday revealed that after a bitter boardroom battle at Sentebale it had found ‘no evidence of widespread or systematic bullying or harassment including misogyny or misogynoir’.
But neither side was satisfied with the final adjudication, which criticised all parties involved, and, although the regulator urged all to be ‘mindful to channel their belief in the charity’s mission in a constructive and collaborative way’, there seems little hope of the row going away.
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.
However, it also confirmed it had no remit to investigate individual allegations. A spokesman for the prince declared this as a win, branding the claims as falsehoods.
But those who run Sentebale, after Harry and other trustees resigned en masses in March following infighting, yesterday said such accusations ‘can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate’ than the Charity Commission, without elaborating.
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 set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to work with disadvantaged young people in Lesotho and Botswana, with both men honouring their late mothers.
The Commission criticised all parties as a result of its investigation into the ‘damaging internal dispute’. It said the trustees’ failure to resolve conflict internally ‘severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining 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.
