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

Prince Harry Sued by Charity He Co-Founded for Defamation

The Duke of Sussex faces a legal challenge from the charity he helped establish, Sentebale, which aims to support youth in southern Africa. The lawsuit, initiated in March 2025, alleges that an “adverse media campaign” has caused significant disruption and reputational damage to the organization and its leaders. A statement from the charity’s trustees and executive director claims the dispute stems from coordinated media attacks that undermine their efforts to aid young people.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and former trustee Mark Dyer, also named as a defendant, denied the accusations, calling them “offensive and damaging.” The case, listed as “defamation – libel and slander,” highlights tensions that led to Harry’s departure from the charity last year. The trustees argue that the public nature of the conflict has jeopardized Sentebale’s ability to serve its beneficiaries, while Harry and Dyer insist the charity should prioritize community support over legal battles.

“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 dispute escalated after Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso, left the charity in March 2025 alongside a group of trustees. Reports indicate financial disagreements and fundraising tensions fueled the internal conflict, which eventually became public. The Charity Commission investigated the situation, concluding in August 2025 that all parties involved shared responsibility for the fallout.

Sentebale, founded in 2006 by Prince Harry in honor of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, has been a key focus for his philanthropy. He contributed £1.2m to the charity from the proceeds of his memoir *Spare*, describing his exit as “devastating.” Legal expenses for the case are reportedly covered entirely by external funding, with no use of charitable resources.

Those outside the UK can sign up for the Royal Watch newsletter to receive the latest updates on royal affairs and related news. The charity’s current leadership maintains that the legal action seeks to secure court intervention and protect their reputation from ongoing media scrutiny.