Prince Harry, co-founding patron of Sentebale, and Dr Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, speak during a panel discussion on April 11, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. Photo / Getty
Prince Harry, co-founding patron of Sentebale, and Dr Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, speak during a panel discussion on April 11, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. Photo / Getty
Duke of Sussex allegedly demanded Sentebale chairman ‘explain herself’ after she refused to issue a statement defending his wife.
The Duke of Sussex allegedly sent an “unpleasant” and “imperious” message to the head of an African charity he founded after she refused to issue a statement defending his wife, the Telegraph can reveal.
He initially asked his team to contact the Zimbabwean-born lawyer and request she issue a statement quashing any rumours of tension between her and the duchess.
However, after she refused to be drawn into the row, Harry fired a direct message to her allegedly demanding that she “explain herself”.
According to sources, the note was “unpleasant” in tone and used “imperious” language that left the charity boss feeling taken aback.
The Telegraph understands that her refusal to comply with the request to back Meghan contributed to the bitter dispute that this week saw the duke resign as head of the HIV children’s charity he co-founded almost two decades ago.
Prince Harry and Meghan at the Royal Salute Polo match benefiting Sentebale. Photo / Getty Images
The awkward Miami moment
Tensions between the charity’s chairman and its co-founder became apparent last April when Prince Harry captained the winning side at the Sentebale charity polo match in Miami.
The duchess, who had not been expected to attend the event, turned up at short notice, accompanied by a camera crew from the couple’s Netflix documentary.
Serena Williams, the seven-time Wimbledon champion and a friend of the duchess, was also present at the match.
According to one source, Meghan spent much of the afternoon chatting to Williams, occasionally asking the organisers to bring her champagne.
But problems arose at the end of the match when the players and their partners gathered on the podium for a post-match photograph.
In an exchange captured on camera, Meghan appeared to instruct Chandauka to move away from the duke as he celebrated his win.
The duchess was filmed asking Chandauka to move to the other side of her husband, forcing the charity chairman to duck under the trophy to switch position.
The brief encounter generated huge publicity and, behind the scenes, the Sussexes were said to be furious at the way it had appeared.
The Telegraph understands that a member of Prince Harry’s team initially asked Chandauka to issue a statement dismissing any suggestions of tension.
But Chandauka, who felt she had been treated with disrespect during the charity day, refused, saying she did not wish to “become an extension of the Sussex PR machine”.
The duke then contacted her directly to complain about her actions, with sources describing the message as “unpleasant”.
However, on Tuesday he issued a statement explaining he was standing down as patron because the “relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board had broken down beyond repair”.
‘Prince Harry wanted to eject me’
On Sunday, amid claims that charity trustees had been briefing against Chandauka – who was appointed chairman in 2023 – she went on the offensive, accusing the duke of trying to “eject” her through bullying and harassment.
She suggested the Sussex brand was toxic and was putting off potential sponsors from backing the charity.
Speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, Chandauka said: “Really, what Prince Harry wanted to do was to eject me from the organisation and this went on for months.
“It went on for months through bullying, harassment. I have documentation.”
She also criticised the manner of Harry’s resignation, saying: “The only reason I’m here is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director.
“And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family?
“That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale.”
