Sentebale Sues Prince Harry Over Defamation Claims
An African AIDS charity co-founded by Prince Harry has launched High Court proceedings against him for alleged defamation, as the Duke of Sussex and former trustee Mr Mark Dyer rejected the accusations. The case adds a new legal dispute to the ongoing fallout surrounding Sentebale, which the prince helped establish in 2006 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
NDTV reported that Sentebale said it had begun legal action for “reputational harm” after what it described as a “coordinated adverse media campaign” that disrupted operations and damaged the charity’s standing with partners.
According to court filings cited in the report, Prince Harry and Mr Dyer are named as defendants in a claim described as “Media and Communication — Part 7 Claim — Defamation — libel and slander.” A spokesperson for the pair said they “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims” and criticised the use of charitable funds for litigation rather than community support.
The dispute follows previous concerns about governance at Sentebale. In August 2025, the UK Charity Commission pointed to mismanagement at the charity, while finding no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment. Prince Harry has previously spoken publicly about the strain of legal battles, including in his comments that his privacy fight has come at a “personal cost”.
Sentebale was founded to help young people living with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, later expanding its focus to Botswana. The High Court claim is expected to proceed through the civil courts, with any further statements likely to come through legal representatives rather than public comment.
