Prince Harry's Charity Pauses Defamation Claim Amid Financial Strain

A defamation claim initiated by the charity Sentebale against its co-founder Prince Harry has been temporarily halted due to concerns over significant legal expenses.

The Duke of Sussex was sued on allegations that he orchestrated an "adverse media campaign" against Sentebale, which the charity claimed caused operational disruption and reputational damage. However, Sentebale experienced a 20 percent decrease in income following the claim's launch, leading to its current pause. There are fears that an unfavorable court outcome could force the charity to cover substantial legal bills, potentially leading to its closure.

Prince Harry has expressed his willingness to proceed to a trial to clear his name. Such a trial could result in Sentebale being ordered to pay damages and bear the legal costs for both parties. All involved parties have now agreed to extend the deadlines for filing the acknowledgement of service and the defense, preventing the specifics of the claim from becoming public at this time.

Sentebale's most recent financial statements indicate an income of approximately £2 million in 2025, a decrease from £2.5 million in 2024, when adjusted for a 12-month reporting period. Income generated from events saw a significant drop, from £715,000 in 2024 to £70,000 in the past year, attributed in part to the cessation of Prince Harry's polo tournaments for the charity. Despite this, donations to Sentebale increased by £50,000, reaching £342,000 in 2025.

Court filings from April revealed that Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, a former Sentebale trustee and his childhood mentor, were defendants in a libel or slander lawsuit. In response, Harry and Dyer issued a joint statement, categorically rejecting the claims as "offensive and damaging."

At the time of the initial filing, Sentebale's board of trustees and its executive director stated they were seeking the court's protection, expressing gratitude for the continued support of donors and emphasizing the increasing criticality of the charity's work.

The legal action followed a period of internal dispute. In March of the previous year, founders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as patrons to support a group of trustees who had resigned after a disagreement with the board chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. This dispute also followed an incident at a Sentebale charity polo event in Miami in April 2024, where Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, appeared to ask Dr. Chandauka to move away from Prince Harry.

Following Prince Harry's resignation, Dr. Chandauka publicly accused him of "harassment and bullying at scale," of playing "the victim card," and suggested that "the number-one risk for this organisation was the toxicity of its lead patron's brand." Prince Harry denied these accusations.

Subsequently, the Charity Commission released a report on the matter, criticizing all involved parties for allowing the dispute to become public through interviews and statements. The commission noted that all trustees missed an opportunity to resolve the issues that led to the disagreement, which risked undermining public trust in charities. While the regulator found no evidence of systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny, or misogynoir, it acknowledged a "strong perception of ill treatment" among some individuals involved. A source indicated in August of the previous year that Prince Harry had been left "emotionally devastated" by these events, after 19 years of involvement with the charity.

Sentebale, co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in honor of Princess Diana, focuses on supporting the health and well-being of young people, particularly those affected by HIV and AIDS, in Botswana and Lesotho.

Prince Harry's representative declined to comment on the current development. Sentebale has also been contacted for comment.