Sentebale charity launches libel claim at London’s High Court following
public dispute with its former patron
A legal dispute involving the
charity Sentebale and its co-founder Harry has sparked strong reactions
online, with some commentators praising the organisation’s chair, Sophie
Chandauka, for taking the matter to court.
According to court
records made public on Friday, Sentebale has filed a defamation claim at the
High Court in London against Harry and his close associate Mark Dyer, who
previously served as a trustee of the charity.
The organisation was
founded in 2006 by Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in honour of Princess
Diana to support children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho
and Botswana. Harry stepped down as patron in March 2025 following a highly
publicised dispute with Chandauka, the chair of Sentebale’s board.
The
case has divided public opinion. Supporters of Harry have criticised the
charity’s decision to pursue legal action, while some of his critics in
Britain have voiced support for the organisation.
Among those
backing the move is British journalist Dan Wootton, who shared a photo from a
past Sentebale event attended by Meghan Markle and Harry. In a post on social
media, he described Chandauka as a “hero” for pursuing the claim and
criticised the Duke of Sussex over previous legal disputes.
Sentebale said the lawsuit relates to what it described as an
“adverse media campaign” that began in March last year. The charity claims the
campaign caused operational disruption and damaged its reputation as well as
that of its leadership and strategic partners.
In a statement
connected to the filing, the organisation said it is seeking the court’s
“intervention, protection and restitution.” It also alleged that evidence
points to Harry and Mark Dyer as the figures behind the campaign, which it
claims spread widely online and led to cyberbullying directed at the charity
and its leadership.
The case is now expected to proceed through the
High Court in London as the dispute between the former patron and the charity
he helped establish continues to unfold.
