Prince Harry’s former charity, Sentebale, is reportedly suing the Duke of Sussex for libel one year after he resigned as its patron amid an ugly internal dispute with the charity’s chairwoman.

The claim was reportedly lodged on March 24, 2026, at the High Court in London under the case type "Media and Communication - Defamation Libel and Slander". While specific details of the alleged defamatory statements have not yet been made public, the suit follows a highly contentious period of internal conflict within the organization.

The prince resigned from his role in March 2025 after clashing with Sophie Chandauka, who still serves as chair of the charity’s board. The charity also reportedly sued one of the 41-year-old prince’s close friends, Mark Dyer, who served as a trustee of Sentebale before Harry and Chandauka’s falling out.

Background

• Bullying Allegations: Dr. Chandauka accused Prince Harry of orchestrating a campaign of "harassment and bullying at scale" to force her out.

• Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho accused Sophie Chandauka, the chairwoman of their charity Sentebale, of creating an "untenable situation" that led to their resignation. However, when confronted with supplying any proof of what Chandauka did wrong, it was notably absent.

• Chandauka refers to the resignation statement as a "damaging news." It also cast her and the charity in a bad light as it says she refused to step down even though both princes made unfounded claims while also essentially doing nothing for the charity but adding people to the board needlessly and not abiding by the charity's own bylaws of term limits.

• Charity Commission Probe: In August 2025, the Charity Commission for England and Wales concluded an investigation into the row. While it found no evidence of systemic bullying or misogyny, it criticized all parties for allowing the dispute to play out in public, which severely damaged the charity's reputation and financial stability.

• A spokesman for Sentebale said that the charity had carried out a "restructuring" of its board as "confirmation of its strategy to redeploy senior roles to be proximate to most of the team and programs in southern Africa.

• Financial Impact: By early 2026, reports indicated the charity's reserves had been nearly depleted due to the ongoing turmoil.

A rep for the Duke of Sussex did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Harry co-founded Sentebale in Princess Diana’s honor in 2006. It focuses on ​helping young HIV and AIDS victims in the South African countries of Lesotho ​and Botswana.

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded Sentebale with Harry, and the board of trustees also left with the prince when he resigned last year.

“With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees,” Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement at the time.

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair,” they added.

Botswana, meanwhile, reported both Harry and the trustees to Britain’s charity regulator over shocking allegations of bullying and harassment.

Libel in The UK

Libel is a permanent form of defamation in the UK, typically involving written statements that falsely accuse someone of something and damage their reputation. It is considered a civil wrong, allowing the affected party to seek compensation through the courts.

Key Characteristics of Libel

Permanent Form: Libel refers to statements that are published in a lasting format, such as written articles, social media posts, or printed materials.

Falsity: For a statement to be considered libelous, it must be untrue. The burden of proof lies with the defendant to prove the truth of the statement.

Damage to Reputation: The statement must cause harm to the reputation of the individual or entity, which can include loss of business or personal relationships.

Legal Framework

Civil Action: Libel cases are handled in civil courts, not criminal courts, meaning that the plaintiff seeks damages rather than criminal penalties.

Defenses: Common defenses against libel claims include justification (proving the statement is true), honest opinion, and privilege (certain statements made in specific contexts).

Possible Outcome of the lawsuit

The legal consequences of libel in the UK can include civil claims for damages, where the affected party can seek compensation for harm to their reputation. Additionally, the defendant may face legal costs and the requirement to retract the statement or issue an apology.