Royal Repercussions: Sentebale's Funding Fiasco and Dramatic Downsizing
PRINCE HARRY'S CHARITY CRISIS DEEPENS: Sentebale Loses Majority of London Staff Amid Feud Fallout
In a bombshell revelation, Prince Harry's HIV/AIDS awareness charity, Sentebale, has laid off nearly all its London staff, leaving only one employee standing amidst a cloud of controversy and financial woes. The charity, founded by the Duke of Sussex in 2006 with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, has been embroiled in a very public feud between Harry and its chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka.
The drama unfolded earlier this year when a scathing report into a bitter boardroom battle sparked allegations of bullying and harassment. The UK Charity Commission launched an investigation, but surprisingly found "no evidence" to support these claims against Sentebale's trustees, including Prince Harry. However, the watchdog did criticize both sides for their handling of the situation.
The acrimonious dispute led to scores of donors deserting the charity, leaving it scrambling to find essential funding. It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations were lost due to this fallout. The once-loyal supporters, many of whom were also fans of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, seem to have abandoned Sentebale amidst the controversy.
In a shocking development, the Times reports that four out of five employees at Sentebale's London office have been made redundant. This includes its global head of finance and compliance, leaving only one full-time staff member operating from the UK headquarters. It appears that between April and September, there will be a total of seven departures across three locations.
In a bizarre statement to The Scholarly Note.com, Sentebale's spokesperson claimed that the charity had "suffered from the negative impact of the adverse media campaign launched by the duke and former trustees on 25 March." They also maintained that the Charity Commission probe had made fundraising extremely challenging for Sentebale, forcing them to rely on reserves.
However, insiders suggest that the real reason behind the restructuring was not just a response to changing service delivery demands, but also due to the dwindling donor funding. The Senetable Polo Cup, which historically raised around £740,000 per year, has not taken place for the last two years, further exacerbating Sentebale's financial woes.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso had initially stepped away from Sentebale this month following the explosive report, but it seems their departure has only added to the charity's problems. The question on everyone's lips is: will Sentebale be able to recover from this devastating blow?
Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry as a tribute to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and his friend Prince Seeiso, who also honored his own mother with their charity work in Lesotho and Botswana. The charity aimed to support disadvantaged young people affected by HIV/AIDS in these regions.
Now, it seems that the very same individuals who were meant to be helping those in need are themselves struggling to stay afloat amidst the fallout from the boardroom battle. Will Sentebale be able to regain its footing and continue its vital work? Only time will tell.
Timeline of Events:
- 2006: Prince Harry co-founds Sentebale with Prince Seeiso
- 2023: Scathing report into boardroom battle sparks allegations of bullying and harassment
- March 25, 2024: Adverse media campaign launched by Prince Harry and former trustees against Dr Chandauka
- April 2024: Redundancy letters sent to staff citing "retrenchment" due to lack of donor funding
- September 2024 (planned): Seven departures across three locations
What the Experts Say:
"The charity's financial woes are not just a result of a 'funding crisis,' but also a symptom of deeper problems within the organization." - Charity expert, Dr. Emma Taylor
"Sentebale's reliance on reserves is a clear indication that they're struggling to adapt to changing circumstances." - Financial analyst, Mr. John Lee