The Duke of Sussex stepped back from his Sentebale charity
Prince Harry
Prince Harry is said to be ‘fuming’ after getting his ‘wrists slapped’ following his bitter charity row fallout.
The Duke of Sussex is understood to be devastated by the events surrounding the boardroom battle which saw him leave Sentebale – a charity he co-founded in 2006.
The dispute prompted Harry to step down as patron in support of trustees who had resigned in opposition to board chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka.
According to a source close to the Duke, it was described as a ‘hostile takeover’.
A Charity Commission report criticised all sides for making the fallout public with interviews and statements.
Sources close to Harry have hit out at Dr Chandauka after she referenced Harry’s late mother Princess Diana in a statement.
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Now Harry has stepped away from the charity, there have been suggestions that he could set up another venture to help children in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDs, Mirror reports.
Royal expert Jennie Bond said: “I think Harry will feel very wounded by the way things have turned out, but he has said – and I believe him – that he will find a different way to help the children of Lesotho and Botswana.
“I think it would be rather unwise to set up a rival charity, but I’m sure he will find a way to help the cause and to raise funds.”
In its report, the Charity Commission all parties in the dispute were criticised for allowing the row to play out publicly.
It described how trustees contributed to a ‘missed opportunity’ to resolve the issues which led to the serious disagreement.
This risked undermining public trust in charities generally, the regulator said.
The Charity Commission – which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying – found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassmen.
This included misogyny or misogynoir at the charity.
But it acknowledged ‘the strong perception of ill treatment’ felt by some involved.
Harry’s spokesperson said the report ‘falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current chair’s actions will not be borne by her – but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support’.
Sentebale appeared to suggest allegations made by Dr Chandauka of bullying, harassment and misogyny may be pursued against individuals through ‘avenues more appropriate’.
Former BBC royal correspondent Ms Bond added: “Harry is clearly fuming and believes the Commission has not addressed some central issues.
“But the charity is also threatening to take things further.
“I think the Prince is now even more disillusioned by the ‘establishment’ – and that includes most official channels.
“He is reported to believe the Charity Commission is not fit for purpose, and so any future ventures are unlikely to be under its jurisdiction.
“Sentebale was a passion for Harry and one that was closely associated with his mother, who campaigned so hard to make the world understand more about AIDS and HIV.
“When you saw him with the children, he seemed so invested in helping them, so compassionate and so full of fun as he played games with them and made them feel their world was a better place.
“He has said himself that he is devastated by the way things have turned out.
“It was interesting that in his resignation from the charity earlier this year, he and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, said their decision was ‘until further notice’.
“I think Harry believed the Charity Commission would come down firmly on his side and oust the chair Dr Sophie Chandauka from her position, allowing him to return as patron.
“Now, however, he sees the report as enabling what he calls ‘a hostile takeover’.
“Critically, the report cleared the Prince of the damaging allegations of bullying, misogyny, and misogynoir.
“But it was highly critical of the way Harry, and indeed Dr Chandauka, waged an angry war of words in public.
“Neither side has come out of this well, and both have had their wrists well and truly slapped by the commission.”
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