Misconduct claims at charity set up by Prince Harry 'a surprise', says Sentebale trustee

A former trustee at a charity co-founded by Prince Harry has said he is surprised at claims of bullying, harassment and misogyny made by its chairwoman.

Dr Kelello Lerotholi told Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills he did not recognise the allegations.

Prince Harry established Sentebale in 2006, in honour of his mother Princess Diana, to help children and young people in southern Africa.

Dr Lerotholi and other trustees have resigned amid a bitter internal row, with Harry also quitting as patron in solidarity.

The royal said on Tuesday he was devastated and “in shock” at having to part ways.

“What’s transpired is unthinkable,” said a joint statement issued with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.

Chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka, who has not accused anyone specifically, alleged “issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir”.

However, Dr Lerotholi told Sky News he had never witnessed these issues and that the claims “came to me as a surprise”.

“I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such,” he said.

“The general tone and conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each others’ opinions and inputs, and speaking with respect to each other.

“So this all came as a shock to me.”

Dr Chandauka said on Tuesday that she had reported Sentebale’s trustees to the Charity Commission in the UK and obtained an injunction to stop them from removing her.

Precise details of the falling out within the charity are unclear, but reports have suggested it’s connected to a decision to focus fundraising in Africa.

“I think things came to a head at the end of last year when it seemed that we were not doing as well as we used to be and that the future didn’t look as bright as it used to,” Dr Lerotholi added.

“As is natural in an organisation we had to sort of look inwards and see how we deal with it and then look at how the situation came to be.”

Harry’s decision is particularly astonishing

You can’t underestimate how significant Sentebale has been for Prince Harry.

His personal tribute to his mother Princess Diana, it was the charity that showed he was more than just a Prince who liked a laugh.

And so important to him that it was at one of their events that he broke his silence in the week after announcing he was stepping away from royal life.

But now he’s had to step away from the charity with a “heavy heart”.

Speaking to trustee Dr Kelello Lerotholi, who was in Lesotho and one of those who stepped down, you can get a real sense of the genuine upset this has all caused.

When I put to him the incredibly serious allegations made by the chair of harassment and bullying, he told me it simply wasn’t something he recognised.

He said “the general conduct of the board has been one of respect for each other, accommodating each others’ opinions”.

He talks instead about there being issues around “stewardship”, suggesting fundraising plans may have been an area of concern.

Dr Kelly, as he likes to be called, has been with the charity from the beginning, he was even there when Prince Harry spent part of his gap year there, the foundation for his bond with Prince Seiso and his desire to help the children of Lesotho.

It now isn’t clear what will happen next. Dr Kelly says the name of the charity, which means “forget me not”, is so intrinsically linked to the two mothers of Prince Seiso and Prince Harry it’s impossible to think of it without them.

Harry’s decision to step down is particularly astonishing when you think that the Invictus Games and Sentebale were the two main pillars of his work that remained from his old life, in a tumultuous five years where he had to give up his military affiliations, his royal patronages and some would say his family.

Prince Harry was inspired to start the organisation after spending two months in Lesotho when he was on a gap year in 2004.

Dr Lerotholi said the situation was especially painful for him because he “was there at the very beginning”.

“I recall personally hosting Harry during his gap year. He happened to be in Lesotho during the Rugby World Cup. I happen to have an oversized TV so they spent most of their time watching the World Cup,” he said, noting that this is when initial discussions about the charity started.

“So I’ve watched them from the very beginning into where they are now. I’ve also experienced very closely the successes they’ve had, the impact they’ve had.

“When I look at that and see where we’re at now, it’s really very disheartening and actually very painful and very personal to see what we’ve come to.”

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Dr Lerotholi admitted it was “very difficult” to think about the next steps.

He said he has a sense from Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso that they feel guilty “of having to take the decision they’ve had to take, but also understanding the fact that they had no choice ultimately for the betterment of the charity”.

The princes’ decision to resign allows them to “see what’s next”, Dr Lerotholi said.

“Because I can tell you, I’m very sure they are not going to leave the kids in the lurch, they’re going to find a way to deliver on the mission that they’ve set for themselves in the memory of their mothers.”

A Charity Commission spokesperson said it was “aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale” and was “assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps”.

Prince Harry was in Lesotho – which has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV and Aids – as recently as last October.

In a statement, Sentebale said it was evolving into an organisation which addresses larger issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa.

It said it had not yet received resignations from its two royal patrons.

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