NEED TO KNOW

  • Prince Harry will not return to Sentebale, the HIV/AIDS charity he co-founded in 2006, amid ongoing fallout from a leadership dispute
  • A spokesperson says Harry raised governance concerns with regulators before stepping away, urging continued oversight to protect beneficiaries
  • The charity has faced financial strain, staff cuts and board resignations as regulators criticized both sides for the public dispute

Prince Harry will not be returning to Sentebale, the HIV/AIDS charity he co-founded nearly two decades ago, amid ongoing fallout from a bitter leadership dispute, PEOPLE understands. 

Sources close to the charity told The Times that any prospect of the Duke of Sussex, 41, re-engaging with Sentebale has now been “completely extinguished,” describing the organization as “too tarnished” following months of public infighting, resignations and staff cuts.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Jan 2, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said Harry raised concerns through formal channels before stepping away from the charity.

“The Duke has made multiple representations to the Charity Commission, setting out his concerns regarding Sentebale’s governance and, in the interests of its beneficiary community, has urged the appropriate regulatory bodies to maintain close oversight of the charity’s activities,” the spokesperson said.

PEOPLE has reached out to Sentebale for comment.

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre on October 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho.

Brian Otieno/Getty

Sentebale, which Harry co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in honor of his mother Princess Diana, has reportedly been grappling with a funding crisis since Harry and his co-founder stepped down as patrons in March. Their departures followed a highly public dispute with Sentebale chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who accused Harry of bullying, racism and misogyny — allegations he has denied.

The dispute spilled into the public domain and was later criticized by the Charity Commission, which said the dispute had “severely impacted the charity’s reputation.” Trustees resigned en masse during the fallout.

The Charity Commission ultimately faulted both sides for allowing the dispute to play out publicly, further compounding reputational damage at a time when the charity’s finances were already under pressure.

According to published accounts cited by The Times, Sentebale’s reserves dropped sharply in 2024, with just $278,000 in the bank by December after liabilities were taken into account — down from $2 million roughly 16 months earlier. The charity acknowledged that the figure was close to its minimum reserve level and warned that programs could shrink by the end of 2026 without new funding.

Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and and Dr. Sophie Chandauka peak during the Sentebale Potential is Waiting on April 11, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Jason Koerner/Getty

Redundancies have followed across multiple countries. Reports indicate that roughly one in five employees in Botswana were laid off, including the country director, while nearly all London-based staff were dismissed in August. Local reports in Lesotho have suggested the charity’s headquarters has been “effectively mothballed,” a claim Sentebale disputes, maintaining that the center remains fully operational.

The organization has said the cuts were part of a cost-saving plan aimed at reducing expenses by $1.3 million and that redundancies in Botswana had been planned as early as 2023, prior to the leadership dispute.

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Despite the turmoil, Sentebale has insisted it remains financially stable and on track to serve at least 78,000 children and young people across Lesotho and Botswana in 2025, matching or exceeding its impact the previous year.

Still, sources close to the charity told The Times that the damage done during the feud has effectively closed the door on Harry’s return — bringing an end to one of the Duke of Sussex’s longest-running charitable affiliations.