According to the brother of Prince Seeiso, the charity Sentebale’s co-founder, Prince Harry‘s dwindling attention “killed the spirit” of the charity after he married Meghan Markle in Windsor in 2018. The royal founded the organisation in honour of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. The charity aims to help young people in Southern Africa – particularly those living with HIV and Aids.
Prince Seeiso’s brother, chief Khoabane Theko, told the Telegraph Harry could have visited “more often”. He said: “He’s a loved figure because of his openness, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of Sentebale’s survival. I haven’t seen him [Prince Harry] since he got himself married.”
Speaking of when the charity got off the ground, he said: “When [Sentebale] was launched, I remember his words quite vividly, because he was very strong in saying ‘my mother, this place, her passion about Africa’ and all that.”
The Duke’s last visit to Lesotho, in October 2024, was his first in six years. He previously visited more frequently, making four trips between June 2010 and the end of 2015. Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in Windsor in May 2018.
Last month, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso stepped down from the charity alongside the board of trustees. The Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case a week after Harry quit as a patron and demanded the resignation of Dr Sophia Chandauka.
Since his resignation, Dr Chandauka has appeared on Sky News and called the Sussexes’ brand “toxic” and accused Harry of “harassment and bullying at scale” – a claim that is denied.
The Charity Commission said that it had informed Sentebale that it had “opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns raised about the charity”.
Harry said in a statement: “From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers.
The statement continues: “On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry. We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign.
“We remain hopeful this will allow for the charity to be put in the right hands immediately, for the sake of the communities we serve.”
The commission said it had informed the charity that it had opened a regulatory compliance case. This allows the watchdog to “gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties” and responsibilities.
