Regulator sees no evidence of harassment at Harry's institution

The Charity Commission released on Tuesday, August 5, the results of its April investigation into Sentebale, an African charity founded by Prince Harry 20 years ago, after the charity's chair, Sophie Chandauka, accused Harry and board members of bullying , racism, harassment, and misogyny . The regulator found no evidence to substantiate Chandauka's allegations , but criticized those involved for their public statements prior to the inquiry.

"No evidence was found of widespread or systemic harassment or bullying , including misogyny, within the charity, but the Commission acknowledged the strong perception of mistreatment felt by several parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally," says the report released this Tuesday . The regulatory body also finds that there was "no 'overreach' by the president or the Duke of Sussex as patron , but the Commission criticizes the charity's lack of clarity in its delegations to the president, which allowed misunderstandings to occur. The failure to clarify delegations within the charity to the president and the lack of adequate internal complaints processes amount to mismanagement in the charity's administration."

The Charity Commission said the lack of definition of the chair's powers led to a "confusing, complex, and poorly managed" process , while considering that the trustees at the time "lacked adequate processes and policies to investigate internal complaints." Finally, the regulator criticized " public statements made to the press and public criticism made in television interviews," which it considered "not to have been conducted in a way that was in the best interests of the charity." Given the findings, Sophie Chandauka remains as chair of the charity, while Harry, who resigned in March, is permanently stepping down from Sentebale.

In response to the investigation's conclusion, Sophie Chandauka emphasized in a statement that the results "confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025. The experience was intense and became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience," says the institution's president, who ends the statement by both criticizing and praising the Duke of Sussex . "The unexpectedly adverse media campaign launched by those who resigned on March 24, 2025, caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse into the unacceptable behaviors demonstrated privately. We are emerging not only grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious, and with our dignity intact," says Chandauka, who concludes by saying that the organization is inspired by Harry. “Despite the recent turmoil, we will always be inspired by the vision of our founders , Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who founded Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato.”

Harry says he is not surprised by the Charity Commission's findings regarding the allegations against him. "Despite everything, their report is worryingly inadequate in many respects, particularly regarding the fact that the consequences of the current president's actions are not borne by her —but by the children who rely on Sentebale's support," reads the statement released by the Duke of Sussex's representative, quoted by People.

Harry resigned as patron of Sentebale in late March after the association's president publicly accused him of harassment. Sophie Chandauka even gave an interview to Sky News in which she said the Duke of Sussex wanted to expel her from the organization: "This went on for months through intimidation and harassment, I have documentation." In the same interview, Chandauka mentions a moment with Meghan at a polo match a year earlier. In response to the accusations, Harry also issued statements commenting on the matter, and the controversy prompted the Charity Commission, an independent body that regulates charities in England and Wales, to launch an inquiry.