Charity Commission Engages Sentebale Over Harry Lawsuit
The Charity Commission has said it is engaging with Sentebale’s trustees after learning the charity intends to pursue defamation proceedings in a case that names Prince Harry as a defendant, escalating a dispute linked to the organisation he co-founded in 2006.
GB News reported that the regulator has been in contact with Sentebale since February and is seeking to understand how the planned legal action furthers the charity’s purposes, amid warnings that litigation can bring risks to beneficiaries, assets and public standing.
Court documents cited in the report name Prince Harry and Mr Mark Dyer, a former trustee, as defendants, with Sentebale’s board alleging they orchestrated an “adverse media campaign” that disrupted operations and damaged the charity’s reputation. A spokesman for the two men issued a statement on Friday evening denying the allegations, saying they “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims”.
Sentebale, founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support young people affected by HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana, has declined further comment while proceedings are ongoing. In earlier coverage of the dispute, Prince Harry denied defamation allegations from Sentebale after the claim was filed.
The charity has said no charitable funds are being used for the litigation and that costs are met by external funding, though the source of that funding has not been disclosed. The Commission has previously noted that charities must consider the potential impact of court action on finances and reputation when deciding whether to litigate.
