Prince Harry’s charity row ‘started with Meghan’: report

“Rude”: New claims have emerged about the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded prior to Harry’s dramatic spat with his charity’s boss.

IN LONDON

Amid the fallout from the bitter row at the centre of Prince Harry’s beloved charity, Sentebale, it’s been claimed that the “problem started with Meghan”.

An extraordinary public war of words has erupted between Harry and the charity’s board of trustees – who all resigned recently – and the organisation’s chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka.

The dramatic escalation followed a complete breakdown in the relationship with Dr Chandauka and the board, with whom Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, are supporting.

The Sentebale chair has since issued a scathing take-down of the Duke of Sussex, claiming donations dropped as a result of his post-royal life reputation, and that he had “unleashed the Sussex machine” on her in what she described as “harassment and bullying at scale” when she tried to enact changes.

Harry stepped down from his own charity recently amid conflict with Dr Sophie Chandauka. Picture: Jason Koerner/Getty Images

But according to the Mail on Sunday, it was initially Meghan who took issue with Dr Chandauka.

“The problem, though, started with Meghan,” a source told the publication.

“Meghan doesn’t like Sophie.”

The insiders also pointed to a well-publicised incident between the two women last April at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Florida – an event held to raise money for Sentebale.

Meghan had initially declined to attend, but made a last-minute decision to turn up, bringing tennis superstar Serena Williams with her.

It’s claimed Dr Chandauka had attempted to chat with the duchess but received only a “perfunctory ‘hi’” in return before walking away with Williams to “drink champagne”.

“She [Dr Chandauka] wanted to take her around, to introduce her to other people, but Meghan didn’t want to mingle or engage with those supporting the event,” a source told the Mail.

“She went off to the tent. Sophie found it rude. Staff working that day were asked to get champagne for Meghan, they were scrambling around – Sentebale and Archewell [Harry and Meghan’s charitable organisation] staff were both having to do that. Sentebale were not happy about this at all.”

The awkward footage went viral. Picture: X

What followed shortly afterwards was the infamous podium moment, which was captured in awkward footage that quickly went viral.

In it, Meghan appeared to be seen repeatedly asking the Sentebale chair to move to her left side and away from Harry as pictures were taken on the stage with the trophy and winners.

Addressing the controversy recently on the UK’s Sky News channel, Dr Chandauka claimed that Harry asked her to issue a public statement defending his wife, but she refused.

“I said I wouldn’t. Not because I didn’t care about the duchess, but because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one,” Dr Chandauka explained.

“And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.”

An insider later told the UK’s Telegraph that Harry’s note to her was “unpleasant” and included “imperious” language.

It’s further alleged that her decision not to speak out at the time is what kickstarted the bitter feud.

A Sentebale spokesman has since confirmed the request did occur, adding “there is a document”.

Earlier this month, Harry announced that he and his Sentebale co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, were quitting the charity along with the board of trustees amid an “untenable” situation with Dr. Chandauka.

Meghan was a last-minute addition to the guest list at the polo event last year. Picture: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

In his statement announcing his decision, Harry said he was “in shock” and “truly heartbroken” to be stepping down.

Dr Chandauka then hit back, claiming they had unsuccessfully tried to force her out because she “dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the cover-up that ensued”.

It was announced last week that the UK’s Charity Commission is now looking into “concerns raised” within Sentebale.

The watchdog confirmed on Thursday that it had opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity, which Harry co-founded Sentebale with Prince Seeiso in 2006 to help children and young people living with HIV and Aids.

It will now “gather evidence and assess the compliance of the charity and trustees past and present with their legal duties”.

It added: “The regulator’s focus, in line with its statutory remit, will be to determine whether the charity’s current and former trustees, including its chair, have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities under charity law”.

The results of a regulatory compliance case can range from an official warning being given or a statutory inquiry being launched.

Following news of the probe, both Dr Chandauka and Harry released statements declaring that they had “welcomed” the announcement.

Originally published as Prince Harry’s charity row ‘started with Meghan’: report