Prince Harry Faces Defamation Lawsuit from Charity Sentebale

Charity's Legal Action Against Co-Founder

A charity co-founded by Prince Harry has initiated a defamation lawsuit against him, intensifying an ongoing conflict regarding the organization's management. Sentebale alleges that an "adverse media campaign" has led to disruptions and “reputational harm” to its leadership and operations. The lawsuit, filed on March 24, includes Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants in a case concerning “defamation - libel and slander.”

Legal Dispute Arises from Internal Conflicts

In response, representatives for Prince Harry and Mark Dyer firmly denied these damaging allegations, stating, "They categorically reject these offensive claims." They emphasized that the charity should prioritize community support over engaging in legal disputes.

The lawsuit follows a contentious internal conflict. In March 2025, Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso resigned from the charity, along with several trustees, after disagreements with chair Sophie Chandauka. Reports indicated that financial and fundraising disputes contributed to the tensions.

Sentebale’s trustees and executive director expressed that the lawsuit seeks the court's "intervention, protection, and restitution" against what they characterize as coordinated media attacks detrimental to the charity’s mission. They also clarified that the legal expenses are being funded entirely by external sources, with no charitable funds utilized.

The Charity Commission had previously looked into the situation, with its chief executive David Holdsworth commenting that the public nature of Sentebale's issues has led to a damaging dispute that could overshadow the charity's accomplishments and hinder its ability to serve its intended beneficiaries. Established in 2006 in memory of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry founded Sentebale to assist young individuals in Botswana and Lesotho, particularly those impacted by HIV and AIDS. He has also contributed £1.2 million from his memoir Spare to the charity, describing his departure as “devastating.”