Prince Harry sued for defamation by charity Sentebale he co-founded

Prince Harry Sued by Charity He Co-Founded for Defamation

A legal action has been initiated by Sentebale, a charity co-founded by the Duke of Sussex, against Prince Harry. The organization, which focuses on aiding youth in southern Africa, claims the lawsuit stems from an “adverse media campaign” that it says has caused internal disruption and damaged its public image. A representative for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, a former Sentebale trustee also named in the case, denied the allegations, calling them “offensive and damaging.”

The dispute over Sentebale’s governance escalated last year, leading to Prince Harry’s departure from the charity. The court case, listed on 24 March as “defamation – libel and slander,” names him alongside Mark Dyer as defendants. A statement from the charity’s trustees and executive director highlights the need for “intervention, protection, and restitution,” citing coordinated media attacks that have undermined the charity’s mission to support young people.

Legal expenses for the case are reportedly covered entirely by external funding, with no use of the charity’s own resources. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex and Mark Dyer argued that the charity should prioritize its community work rather than engaging in legal battles. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, along with a group of trustees, left the organization in March 2025 amid a bitter disagreement with chair Sophie Chandauka.

Reports indicated that financial concerns and differing opinions on fundraising strategies had intensified internal conflicts. Both sides exchanged accusations of misconduct, prompting an investigation by the Charity Commission. In August 2025, the watchdog concluded that blame was shared among all parties and criticized the public nature of the dispute, which it claimed harmed the charity’s reputation.

“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth.

Sentebale was established in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in honor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The charity’s mission centers on assisting young people in Botswana and Lesotho, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS. Prince Harry had contributed an additional £1.2m to the organization from the proceeds of his memoir *Spare*, describing his exit as “devastating.” Sign up here to receive the latest royal updates and analysis via the Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can also register for the service.