Prince Harry is spending today, April 28, dealing with a very emotional moment as he continues his legal fight over the loss of his UK security protection.
This is just one of the major challenges he’s faced so far in 2025. Along with the court battle, Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine earlier this year and has been working hard to raise awareness about the dangers of social media, something he’s very passionate about. But one of the biggest and most heartbreaking events for Harry this year has been the fallout with Sentebale, the charity he co-founded almost two decades ago.
Sentebale, which means “forget-me-not” in the Sesotho language, was set up in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. It was created to help children in Lesotho and Botswana, particularly orphans and young people affected by poverty and AIDS.
Sentebale was very close to Harry’s heart, not just because of the important work it does, but also because it was founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. Over the years, Harry visited Lesotho many times and built a strong bond with the country and its people after first traveling there during his gap year in 2004.
Today would have marked 19 years since Harry officially launched Sentebale, but instead of celebrating, Harry finds himself heartbroken.
Just a month ago, both he and Prince Seeiso announced they were stepping down from their leadership roles at Sentebale after a major dispute with the charity’s chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. This unexpected move came after tensions grew within the organization, leading to a situation that left Harry deeply hurt.
The situation worsened earlier this month when it was suggested that Harry had lost interest in the charity. Chief Khoabane Theko, who claims to be Prince Seeiso’s brother, even said that Harry’s fading involvement had “killed the spirit” of Sentebale. These harsh words added more sadness to an already painful situation.
Things became even more complicated when Dr. Chandauka accused Harry of telling “blatant lies” after an investigation into the charity’s management was launched by the Charity Commission.
She strongly defended herself, saying she refused to be intimidated and criticized those who, in her words, “play the victim card” while using the media they often claim to dislike.
In her powerful statement, Dr. Chandauka made it clear that she saw herself as someone standing up for what was right. She pointed out that if there were no serious concerns, the Charity Commission and the High Court of England and Wales would not have agreed to investigate. She described herself as a whistleblower who had the courage to challenge wrongdoing, despite the risks involved.
Instead of celebrating the 19th anniversary of a project built on love and hope, Prince Harry finds himself at the center of a painful and public fallout. What was supposed to be a proud milestone for Sentebale has turned into a sad reminder of how even the most heartfelt missions can sometimes face difficult struggles.
