Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be celebrating their new Netflix agreement – but a bitter dispute has continued to simmer behind the scenes.
The Duke of Sussex resigned from Sentebale earlier this yearafter a clash with chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka. Harry had founded the organization to support children orphaned by AIDS in Lesotho.
Harry was reportedly heartbroken by the conflict, which resulted in all parties being criticized by the Charity Commission for allowing the public spat to unfold so openly. Meghan was also pulled into the controversy earlier this year when Dr Chandauka alleged she created disruption at a charity fundraiser with minimal advance warning.
Despite sharing updates on Instagram and publicly revealing the new Netflix partnership, Meghan has remained quiet about the dispute. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, there’s an explanation for this silence.
She told The Mirror, “This is a very sensitive issue all round. Sentebale was Harry’s charity from the start, along with his co-founder, Prince Seeiso.”
“The allegations of misogyny and misogynoir – both discounted by the charity commission – make this an even more sensitive issue for Meghan to become involved with.
“So I think she has wisely taken a back seat on this and left it to her husband. I’m sure she has supported and comforted him in private, and I think Harry will completely understand that it’s not her place to get involved in a public row with his charity.”
Following the Charity Commission’s report, it emerged that Harry could be poised to launch a new humanitarian charity. His spokesperson stated, “The duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago. In what form that support takes – no decisions have been made.
“All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region.”
However, royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop has highlighted Meghan’s silence on the matter.
She shared, “Now that Meghan and Harry have signed a new Netflix deal (‘looser’ and apparently less lucrative than the previous $78m one but a deal nonetheless), might the Duchess find her voice?”
Dunlop added, “Not the one she volubly uses to hawk As Ever wares (in conjunction with Netflix) but rather the voice Meghan famously re-found after leaving the Royal Family, the one that talked her truth to royal power and surely could talk her truth to the Sentebale fiasco?
“No, really, why hasn’t Meghan come out batting for Prince Harry in his latest round of verbal fisty-cuffs concerning his former African charity?
“After all, the Duke has consistently spoken out in support of his wife, establishing the precedent early on and against the wishes of his family when he condemned Britain’s media coverage and insisted he had never before witnessed such a ‘degree of pressure, scrutiny and harassment’ from the press. As it currently stands, Harry cuts a lonely figure.”
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