Sentebale is suing Harry for defamation

[QueenOfHertz]

The boot is on the other foot. Hope he knows a good litigation lawyer.

https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/prince-harry-sued-defamation-charity-sentebale-1236714614/

When I was last an auditor (admittedly 15 years ago as I have worked in industry since 2011) we never allowed anything to be published with the statutory accounts document lest it be misconstrued that additional information had been audited, if it had not been. It would certainly be an interesting twist if Buzzacott distanced themselves in any way (not that I would expect them to).

Why the inverted commas? Does Sophie Chandauka not hold a PHD to your knowledge?

Also the belittling by deliberately mangling her surname is a deliberate racist micro-aggression. What issue do you have with a Black woman standing up to an attempted smear campaign by a privileged white man from the aristocracy?

Dr Chandauka's wikipedia page says

In 2023, Coventry University awarded her an honorary doctorate

I can’t even imagine how stressful being constantly involved in litigation must be. What a waste of so many years when they could have been enjoying a lovely, quiet life in California with their young family. I’m exhausted just reading about it.

Those are extraordinary allegations on that document.

For the sake of the charity I hope they can be substantiated. Otherwise it's the end for Sentebale and for Dr Chandauka's reputation

If I were a potential donor and I knew nothing about last year's hoo ha and I was reading the report, it would be obvious to me that the current administraton had serious issues with the previous one, and that both sides sound like self-regarding shit-stirrers hard work.

I would want to speak to the former team to hear their side of the story.

Given the seriousness of the accusations I would ask what the outcome of the police investigation was. But as far as we know there has been no police investigation. The charity commission found nothing beyond lack of clarity in roles.

Yeah if I were a donor I wouldn't touch this charity with a bargepole

Presumably if she’s earned the award, she’s also entitled to use the title that comes with it? It looks like another smear attempt otherwise.

That report does make things a little clearer - an apparent PR exercise in lies and spin resulting in reputational damage to the charity. I can see why they would want to address it if they have the evidence to do so. The question must be can they show that those two in particular were behind the campaign against Sentebale..

I agree, the content of the accounts should be able to stand up to scrutiny, and be fully substantiated with independent documentation, otherwise its curtains for Sophie.

Another interesting accounts inclusion is that Dr Chandauka isn’t actually paid for being the Chair of the Charity, contrary to what Harry and co tried to claim. It is also stated that Dr Chandauka paid her own legal fees.

Lots of Trustees take the role on a voluntary basis, just being reimbursed expenses, so it’s not completely out of the ordinary for that to be the case.

Who is paying Sentebale’s legal fees.
I thought the article I read said no money from the charity was being used.
So where is the money coming from ?

We don’t know, but the most likely option is a professional litigation funder - there are many that work on English court claims. Here is the website of one just as an example, so you can see what they offer. (Sentabale’s claim is likely too small for this particular funder, but there are plenty of others out there and Harbour does have an informative website about how they work). Essentially they lend you the money to pay your lawyers, and make their money back from the damages you are awarded, or any settlement sums.

www.harbourlitigationfunding.com/working-with-us/what-we-look-for/

For those who don't want to plough through the whole report it's here:

“We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions"

SENTEBALE STATEMENT – This is false. Sentebale’s records show that, at the time of the former patron and the former trustees’ resignation, legal fees totalling over £67,000 (before VAT) had been incurred covertly by one former patron and former trustees since December 2024 – significantly exceeding initial estimates of £5,000. These costs arose during a period of financial uncertainty for the charity. Sentebale’s records show that a majority of these legal instructions were initiated by one former patron’s legal advisers. Expenses were incurred despite multiple mediation offers and recommendations, including from the High Court, and concerns raised about the constitutionality of the legal strategy deployed. Sentebale’s records indicate that the full scope and cost implications of this legal strategy were not properly communicated to all trustees or authorised through appropriate governance channels, and that it was concealed from the principal senior executive. Given the material implications for the financial health of the organisation and the need for accountability, the senior executive should have been consulted. For clarity, contrary to misleading reporting, the Chair has personally funded her own legal costs throughout this matter

If this is accurate then Harry claiming it's actually Sentebale who are using charity funds for their lawsuit makes more sense ... as in try to claim the wrong you've done yourself is also being done by someone else to divert attention

Is this the same archewell foundation registered in Delaware and legally only has to give 5% of funds raised to charity? He gets to keep 95% of everything donated.

This is all absolutely incredible .
Wine is open 🍷

And here. 🍷Chin chin!

Trustees cannot be paid in England (not sure about rest of UK) unless they're also an employee (it's possible for an employee to be on the board but they can only be paid for their "employee" role, and not for their trustee role).

This is a really interesting business model, this company has been going 20 years next year, and seem to be making decent money from it.

I’m pretty sure I read that Harry and Co said she was looking for a $300k salary to be the Chair; it will certainly be interesting to see what evidence exists to support that claim.

yeah that would be very surprising - that said, her title is executive chair which sometimes implies a hybrid CEO/ Chair role so that might explain it. But 300k for a charity that brings in 3 million would be........ unusual :-) Doesnt she also have another FT job, running a healthcare company?

There's a pretty good bio of her below, @AllJoyAndNoFun - I think it might be Nandi Life Sciences you're thinking of, but there's so much more ...

https://newsatrack.co.uk/sophie-chandauka-global-leader-biography/

You must be seeing a different video than the rest of us!

She is one impressive woman. Sophie that is.

I haven't RTFT (I will!) but FFS.

Yet another scandal round the charitable 'work' we're assured is a major part of why having the royals matters?

Please make it stop...

A lot of this isn't true, it's from the campaign Harry and Dyer launched against SC and will no doubt form the basis for the law suit.

Classic projection by H - it just wouldn't occur to him she wouldn't do the same thing he did.

Shevaddresses, and refutes, that claim in the appendix of the accounts document.