Prince Harry faces a defamation lawsuit from Sentebale, the African charity he co-founded in 2006 to honor his late mother Princess Diana. The organization filed papers at London's High Court on March 24, naming Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants in what court records describe as a libel and slander action.
The legal action stems from a bitter governance dispute that erupted in 2023 and culminated in Harry's resignation as patron in March 2025. The charity, which supports young people living with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, accuses Harry and Dyer of orchestrating a coordinated media campaign that damaged its reputation and operations.
The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyberbullying directed at the charity and its leadership.
Sentebale — Statement
The dispute began when Sophie Chandauka, a lawyer appointed as chair in 2023, introduced new fundraising strategies that clashed with the founders' vision. Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as patrons after several trustees quit over the disagreement with Chandauka's leadership approach.
Chandauka subsequently reported Harry and the trustees to Britain's charity regulator, alleging bullying and harassment. The public nature of the conflict drew criticism from multiple quarters as the organization's internal disputes played out in media coverage.
British outlets frame this as a significant escalation in royal family controversies, emphasizing the unusual nature of Harry being sued by his own charity. They focus on the governance failures and public nature of the dispute, reflecting UK media's ongoing scrutiny of Harry's post-royal activities and their impact on charitable work.