Prince Harry Sued for Defamation by Sentebale Charity Over Alleged Media Campaign

Sentebale, the African HIV and AIDS charity co-founded by Prince Harry in 2006, filed a defamation lawsuit against the Duke of Sussex and former trustee Mark Dyer in the High Court of England and Wales, accusing them of orchestrating a "coordinated adverse media campaign" that damaged the organization's reputation and triggered an "onslaught of cyberbullying" against its leadership. The charity made the lawsuit public on Friday, April 10, 2026, though court records indicate the filing dates to March 23, with some documents dated March 24. Sentebale stated it was seeking "the court's intervention, protection, and restitution" following disruption caused by the alleged campaign, which it said began around March 25, 2025. The organization operates in Lesotho and Botswana, supporting children and adolescents living with HIV and AIDS. A spokesperson for Prince Harry said he "categorically" rejects the "offensive and damaging" libel claim, according to Reuters.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in memory of their late mothers — Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997, and Queen 'Mamohato of Lesotho. The charity's name means "forget-me-not" in Sesotho. Diana was a prominent advocate for the treatment of HIV and AIDS and helped reduce stigma around the disease. Disagreements within Sentebale over a new fundraising strategy surfaced as early as 2023, years before the dispute became public.

Harry and Dyer named as architects of media campaign Sentebale's statement, issued by its executive director and board of trustees, identifies Harry and Mark Dyer as "the architects" of the adverse media campaign, which the charity says caused "operational disruption and reputational harm" to the organization, its leadership, and its strategic partners. Dyer, a former officer of the Welsh Guards and a longtime friend of Harry, previously served as a trustee of Sentebale and is also the godfather of Harry's son Archie. The charity stated that its leadership had been forced to divert time and resources toward managing a reputational crisis "for which the charity is not responsible." Sentebale added that it had managed to continue financing its projects thanks to its partners and the resilience of its leaders. A spokesperson for Harry and Dyer described it as "extraordinary that the charity's funds are now being used to take legal action against the very people who created it and supported it for nearly two decades."

„The proceedings have been brought against Prince Harry and Mark Dyer, identified through evidence as the architects of that adverse media campaign, which has had significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.” — Sentebale board and executive director via Al Jazeera

Bullying allegations, regulatory inquiry, and a bitter split The lawsuit is the latest development in a prolonged and publicly contested dispute between Harry and Sentebale's chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who is 48 years old. Harry and Prince Seeiso resigned as patrons in March 2025 in support of trustees who had themselves quit, saying the relationship between the board and Chandauka was "beyond repair." Chandauka subsequently accused Harry of orchestrating a campaign of bullying and harassment to force her out, and also criticized his decision to bring a Netflix camera crew to a 2024 fundraiser and an unplanned appearance by his wife Meghan at the same event. The Charity Commission for England and Wales concluded its inquiry in August 2025, finding no evidence of systematic bullying or harassment by Harry, but criticizing all parties for allowing the internal dispute to become public and citing weak governance and "mismanagement" within the organization. Harry's spokesperson had criticized the commission's report at the time, while Chandauka welcomed it.

Sentebale dispute: key events: — ; — ; — ; — ; — ; — ; —

Harry's broader estrangement from royal life deepens The lawsuit adds a new legal front for Harry, who has been involved in separate litigation against British tabloids, including proceedings related to the Daily Mail. Harry, who is 41 years old, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 alongside his wife Meghan and now lives with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, in Montecito, California. Sentebale had been one of the few private patronages Harry retained after his departure from the inner circle of the British royal family. The spokesperson for Harry and Dyer argued the charity's funds should be "directed to the communities the charity was created to serve" rather than used for litigation against its founders. Prince Seeiso, who is 59 years old and is the younger brother of Lesotho's King Letsie III, also resigned as patron alongside Harry in March 2025 and is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.