The organization, which was established in 2006 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, focuses on supporting people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa. Prince Harry stepped down from his role as patron last year after a serious dispute emerged between the charity’s board of trustees and its chair.
According to High Court records in London, Sentebale filed a defamation case on March 23 against the Duke of Sussex and another individual, alleging libel and slander. However, detailed court documents have not been made public.
In a public statement, the charity’s executive director and trustees said they were seeking legal intervention due to what they described as a “coordinated negative media campaign.” They claimed this campaign caused significant damage to the reputation of the charity, its leadership, and its partner organizations.
The statement also named Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer—who is also a close friend of the Duke—as defendants. It further alleged that both were responsible for driving the media narrative, which they say led to widespread online backlash and cyberbullying targeting the charity and its leadership team.
Representatives for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer strongly denied the accusations, calling them “false and damaging.” They also questioned the decision to use charitable resources for legal action, arguing that funds should instead be focused on supporting the communities the organization was created to help.
The dispute follows earlier internal tensions within Sentebale. Last year, several trustees expressed a lack of confidence in board chair Sophie Chandauka, calling for her resignation. The situation escalated when trustees themselves stepped down, claiming legal action had been taken to prevent them from voting her out.
Ms. Chandauka, however, previously accused members of the organization of serious governance issues, including bullying, misuse of power, and discrimination, as well as attempts to cover up internal problems.
Following the fallout, Sentebale confirmed that it had undergone a restructuring of its board.
When Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned, they described the breakdown in relations as “deeply upsetting,” stating that the conflict between trustees and the chair had become impossible to resolve.
