Duke of Sussex accused of turning his back on Sentebale as charity co-founder expresses shock
Prince Harry is under scrutiny after his unexpected resignation from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006 to help children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho. Once a defining part of his royal work and a tribute to Princess Diana, the Duke’s decision to walk away has sparked criticism—particularly from within the region the charity serves.
Launched with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Sentebale—meaning “forget-me-not” in Sesotho—was Harry’s heartfelt attempt to continue his mother’s humanitarian legacy. But the Duke’s sudden exit has raised questions about what—or who—prompted the shift.
Chief Khoabane Theko, brother of Prince Seeiso, voiced his disappointment in an interview with The Telegraph, saying he was stunned that Harry would “abandon” a cause so closely linked to his late mother.
“I’m surprised that he’s relinquishing the charity at this stage… I thought he would want to die for it,” he said.
Harry resigned from the charity following internal disputes between trustees and chairperson Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who publicly accused him of bullying and claimed the charity faced issues of corruption and harassment. Though Harry supported the trustees, Theko believed the Duke’s heart had already turned elsewhere.
He pointed to a shift in Harry’s dedication after his marriage to Meghan Markle and the couple’s move to the U.S. Harry’s visits to Lesotho reportedly dwindled, and Meghan, despite accompanying Harry on trips to Africa, never visited the charity’s programs.
“Did she never come to Lesotho, Meghan? No, she hasn’t,” Chief Theko noted. “She’s a far-away person for us. We don’t know about her.”
The Duke and Duchess's visit to Botswana, while skipping Lesotho, added to the confusion. “I was a little bit perturbed by that,” he admitted.
Despite his criticism, Theko hasn’t ruled out a future return. “Maybe he left because he is prepared to come after and come fix it and get it back,” he said. “I do not believe it comes easy to him to want to give it up—it’s a little bit strange for me.”
Though Harry has spoken frequently about Sentebale’s importance to him, his departure has reignited questions about how his royal legacy may be evolving—and whether his connection to his mother’s mission has been left behind.
