The Duke of Sussex has cut ties with a charity he founded amid an extraordinary row between the charity’s chair and some of its trustees.

Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help people in Africa living with HIV and Aids.

A statement from the two princes said they and several trustees had stepped down following a dispute with Sophie Chandauka, chair of the charity. 

The statement said the relationship between Chandauka and the board had “broken down beyond repair”.

It said: “With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same,” the statement said.

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”

Prince Harry said Sentebale’s trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind.

“In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship,” the statement said.

“What’s transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebale’s beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.”

Chandauka, who was appointed chair in 2023, took legal action against the charity and reported its trustees to the Charity Commission after being asked by the board to step down.

In a statement, she said her actions are “guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all”.

Chandauka’s statement said there were people who mistreated others and then “play the victim card” and use the press to “harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct”.

The charity’s chair said the High Court had accepted her case.

“Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the cover-up that ensued,” her statement said.

“For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account.

“I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.”

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission confirmed it was aware of concerns about Sentebale’s governance.

“We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps,” they said.

A Sentebale spokesperson said the charity had not received resignations from the royal patrons.

The charity confirmed the restructuring of its board on 25 March to introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate Sentebale’s transformation agenda as announced last year, the spokesperson said.

Last April, Sentebale said it planned to transition from an organisation focusing on the impact of HIV and Aids on young people in Lesotho and Botswana to one that is addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa.

The charity also appointed Carmel Gilliard as its interim executive director, based in Johannesburg, in December.

“This followed Sentebale’s confirmation of its strategy to redeploy senior roles to be proximate to most of the team and programmes in southern Africa,” the spokesperson said today.

“The recalibration of the board is, therefore, part of Sentebale’s ambitious transformation agenda.”