A charity once closely tied to Prince Harry has launched legal action against the royal, marking a dramatic escalation in a dispute that has shaken one of his most personal philanthropic

projects.

Sentebale, the organization Harry established in 2006 to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa, has filed a libel claim at London’s High Court. The lawsuit also names Mark Dyer, a longtime confidant of the prince and former trustee of the charity.

According to court filings, Sentebale accuses Harry and Dyer of orchestrating what it describes as an “adverse media campaign” that allegedly caused reputational damage and disrupted the charity’s operations. The organization claims the campaign triggered widespread online harassment directed at its leadership and partners.

Representatives for Harry have strongly denied the allegations, calling them “offensive and damaging.” In a sharply worded response, a spokesperson criticized the charity for using its funds to pursue legal action instead of supporting the vulnerable communities it was created to serve.

The legal clash follows Harry’s resignation as a patron in March 2025 after a highly publicized dispute with the charity’s chair, Sophie Chandauka. The fallout led to a broader leadership crisis, with Prince Seeiso and several trustees also stepping down.

Founded in memory of Princess Diana, Sentebale—meaning “forget-me-not” in the Sesotho language—has long focused on supporting children and young people living with HIV, particularly in Lesotho and Botswana. The charity has been recognized for its work in providing healthcare access, education, and psychosocial support in regions heavily impacted by the epidemic.

At the height of the dispute, Chandauka reported Harry and other trustees to the UK’s charity regulator over allegations of bullying and harassment. However, a subsequent review by the Charity Commission found no evidence supporting those claims, though it did highlight governance shortcomings and criticized all parties for allowing internal disagreements to spill into the public domain.

Harry later described the situation as “heartbreaking,” saying that “blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades” in helping vulnerable children.

The case now heads to the High Court, where a deeply personal disagreement threatens to further unravel the legacy of one of Harry’s most significant charitable endeavors. Photo by Minerva97, Wikimedia commons.