Prince Harry sued for defamation by charity Sentebale he co-founded

Sentebale Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Prince Harry

A legal action has been initiated by Sentebale, the charity co-founded by the Duke of Sussex, against him for defamation. The organization claims the lawsuit stems from an “adverse media campaign” that allegedly disrupted operations and damaged the charity’s standing. The claim, dated 24 March, is categorized as “defamation – libel and slander” and includes Prince Harry alongside Mark Dyer, a former trustee, as defendants.

Representatives of the charity’s leadership have emphasized the need for “intervention, protection, and restitution” to counter coordinated media attacks. These efforts, they argue, have undermined the charity’s mission to support youth in southern Africa, particularly those affected by HIV and AIDS. The legal expenses are reportedly covered entirely by external funding, with no use of charitable resources.

Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, departed from Sentebale in March 2025 amid a contentious boardroom conflict. The dispute involved disagreements over financial management and fundraising strategies, which escalated into public accusations. An investigation by the Charity Commission found fault on all sides, criticizing the manner in which the conflict unfolded.

“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth.

The charity was established in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in memory of Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. It focuses on aiding young people in Botswana and Lesotho. Harry had previously contributed £1.2m from the profits of his memoir, Spare, and described his exit as “devastating.”

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