LONDON (AP) — Britain’s charity regulator has opened an investigation into an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry, per week after the prince and the group’s board of trustees resigned amid a dispute with the charity’s chairwoman.
Sentebale, which gives help for younger individuals in Botswana and Lesotho, has been wracked by turmoil since Harry and his co-founder abruptly resigned March 26, saying the connection between the board and its chair was past restore. Chair Sophie Chandauka later accused the prince of orchestrating a marketing campaign of bullying and harassment to attempt to power her out.
The Charity Fee stated Thursday that it was in “direct contact” with events on either side to assemble proof in its compliance case.
“The regulator’s focus, consistent with its statutory remit, will likely be to find out whether or not the charity’s present and former trustees, together with its chair, have fulfilled their duties and obligations underneath charity regulation,” the fee stated in an announcement.
Chandauka criticized Harry in an interview with Sky Information on Sunday, saying that filming for the prince’s newest Netflix program interfered with a scheduled fundraiser for Sentebale and an incident along with his spouse, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, grew to become a supply of friction.
Harry co-founded Sentebale, which suggests “neglect me not” within the language of Lesotho, practically 20 years in the past in reminiscence of his late mom, Princess Diana.
He stated he hoped the Charity Fee would uncover “the reality” about what precipitated him to resign as patron of Sentebale.
“What has transpired during the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, particularly when such blatant lies harm those that have invested a long time on this shared purpose,” he stated in an announcement. “Nobody suffers greater than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.”
Harry’s resignation got here as Chandauka made allegations of bullying, harassment, sexism and racism in opposition to unnamed board members.
Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho have been patrons of Sentebale however weren’t on the board of trustees. They stated they determined to relinquish their roles as ambassadors for the charity to help the previous trustees of their dispute with Chandauka.
Chandauka, a company lawyer and businesswoman from Zimbabwe, welcomed the fee’s actions and stated she had reported numerous governance and administration points to the company in February. She additionally stated Sentebale initiated its personal inside evaluate final 12 months.
“We hope that, collectively, these actions will give most people, our colleagues, companions, supporters, donors and the communities we serve consolation that Sentebale and its new Board of Trustees are performing appropriately to exhibit and guarantee good governance and a wholesome tradition for Sentebale to thrive,” she stated in an announcement.
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