A non-profit organization co-established by Prince Harry in Africa to pay tribute to his deceased mother, Princess Diana, has taken legal action against him for defamation after he resigned as a patron last year. Sentebale, which provides support to young individuals living with HIV in Botswana and Lesotho, initiated the lawsuit in London’s High Court last month, as per court records examined on Friday. Online filings reveal that Harry and his associate, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity, are facing allegations of either libel or slander. No official documentation was accessible.
In a statement on its website, Sentebale stated, “The charity is seeking the court’s assistance, protection, and compensation following a coordinated negative media campaign that commenced on March 25, 2025, causing operational disruptions and harm to the charity’s reputation, leadership, and partners.” A spokesperson representing Harry and Dyer firmly denied these accusations.
This legal action puts the Duke of Sussex in an unusual position as a defendant in the High Court. In recent years, he has primarily been the plaintiff in privacy violation lawsuits against prominent British tabloids over claims of phone hacking and illicit surveillance practices by journalists and private investigators they hired.
Established approximately 20 years ago, Harry co-founded Sentebale, which translates to “forget me not” in the language of Lesotho, in memory of his mother, who was a notable advocate for HIV and AIDS treatment and stigma reduction. The co-founder of the charity was Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
Conflict within the charity arose in 2023 concerning a new fundraising approach, leading the two founders to step down as patrons in March 2025 in solidarity with resigning trustees. They cited irreparable differences with the board and its chair, Sophie Chandauka. Chandauka later accused Harry of orchestrating a bullying and harassment campaign to pressure her resignation.
During the discord, Chandauka disclosed to Sky News that the filming of one of Harry’s Netflix projects clashed with a planned fundraiser for Sentebale, and an incident involving his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, added to the tension. The Charity Commission for England and Wales investigated the matter and criticized both parties for allowing the dispute to become public, harming the organization’s reputation. The commission’s CEO, David Holdsworth, noted in a statement in August 2025 that there was no widespread evidence of bullying or misogyny at Sentebale.
Harry’s spokesperson disapproved of the commission’s report, while Chandauka welcomed it.